Java Technologies

Java is actually three things:

a computer programming language
a class library
a runtime environment

Applications written in Java can run on any computer platform and operating system that implements a JRE. Java is developed by the JCP organized by Sun.

Java comes in three editions:

Java Standard Edition – Java applications for desktops (Java SE)
- Java language – The syntax for implementing Java programs
- Java Foundation Classes – The Java class library (JFC)
- Java Runtime Environment – Enables a computer to run a Java program (JRE)
- Java Abstract Window Toolkit – A Java class library for GUI windows (AWT)
- Java Swing – A Java class library for GUI windows (Swing)
- Java Database Connectivity – Java classes for connecting to (relational) databases (JDBC)
- Java Persistence API – Bindings between database data and Java objects (JPA)
Java Enterprise Edition – Java applications for client/server servers (Java EE)
- Enterprise JavaBeans – Java objects with high quality of service (EJB)
- Java Message Service – How Java applications use messaging systems (JMS)
- J2EE Connector Architecture – How Java connects to external (non-Java) resources
- Java Naming and Directory Interface – How Java applications access external resources (JNDI)
Java Micro Edition – Java applications for portable devices (Java ME)

Additional Java technologies:

Real-Time Specification for Java – Java applications with predictable response times

Java evolves through the work of committees that operate under the Java Community Process (JCP), developed by and lead by Sun Microsystems. The JCP committees produce specs for new Java features called Java Specification Requests (JSR).