Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language that was created by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle Corporation) in 1995. It is widely used for developing enterprise applications, mobile applications, and web applications, among others.
Java is a platform-independent language, meaning that Java programs can run on any computer or device that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. This is because Java code is compiled into bytecode, which is then interpreted by the JVM.
Java has a rich set of libraries and APIs, which makes it easy to develop complex applications. It also has a strong type system and automatic memory management, which helps to prevent common programming errors.
One of the key features of Java is its "write once, run anywhere" philosophy. This means that once a Java program has been written, it can run on any platform that has a JVM, without any changes to the code. This makes it a popular choice for cross-platform development.
Java is also known for its security features, such as its built-in sandbox environment that prevents untrusted code from accessing the system resources of a computer.
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
In this example, we define a public class called "HelloWorld". The class has one method, "main", which is the entry point of the program. The method takes an array of strings as an argument, which is typically used to pass command-line arguments to the program. In this case, we don't use the arguments.
The method uses the "System.out.println" statement to print the message "Hello, World!" to the console. The "println" method adds a newline character at the end of the output, so the next output will start on a new line.
To run this program, save it in a file called "HelloWorld.java" and compile it using the command "javac HelloWorld.java". This will generate a file called "HelloWorld.class". To run the program, use the command "java HelloWorld". This will execute the "main" method and print the message "Hello, World!" to the console.
Overall, Java is a powerful and versatile programming language that has a wide range of applications, from developing desktop and mobile applications to creating enterprise-level software systems.