IBM MQ Java language interfaces

IBM® MQ provides two alternative application programming interfaces (APIs) for use in Java applications: IBM MQ classes for Java Message Service and IBM MQ classes for Java.

IBM supports, and is an active participant of, open standards and within the messaging area the API standard is the Java Message Service (JMS). From IBM MQ 8.0, the product implements the JMS 2.0 standard, which introduces a new simplified API together with features such as shared subscriptions. In addition, WebSphere® Liberty has support for JMS 2.0 with both the default messaging provider and IBM MQ.

Within IBM MQ there are two alternative APIs for use in Java applications:

IBM MQ classes for JMS

IBM MQ classes for Java Message Service (JMS) is the JMS provider that is supplied with IBM MQ. The Java Platform, Enterprise Edition Connector Architecture (JCA) provides a standard way of connecting applications running in a Java EE environment to an Enterprise Information System (EIS) such as IBM MQ or Db2®.

IBM MQ classes for Java

IBM MQ classes for Java enable you to use IBM MQ in a Java environment. IBM MQ classes for Java allow a Java application to connect to IBM MQ as an IBM MQ client, or connect directly to an IBM MQ queue manager.

Note: IBM MQ classes for Java are functionally stabilized at the level shipped in IBM MQ 8.0. Existing applications that use the IBM MQ classes for Java will continue to be fully supported, but this API is stabilized, so new features will not be added and requests for enhancements rejected. Fully supported means that defects will be fixed together with any changes necessitated by changes to IBM MQ System Requirements.

From IBM MQ 8.0, the IBM MQ classes for Java and IBM MQ classes for JMS are built with Java 7. The Java 7 runtime environment supports running earlier class file versions.