Java technology is a multithreaded, platform-independent, object-oriented programming environment. Java is useful for writing anything from a distributed application that runs on a corporate network to a database-driven Web site to host your personal photo gallery. It is considered a base for Web and networked services, platform-independent desktops, applications, robotics, and other embedded devices.

The Java language was created to simulate some of the most popular programming languages in use today, most notably C/C++. If you're not a C/C++ expert, however, the language can be a little intimidating.

Java was tested, improved, extended, and proven by a specialized community. And considering more than 6.5 million developers, it's the largest and most active on the planet. With its versatility, efficiency, and portability, Java has become invaluable to developers by enabling them to:

• Make programs to operate within a Web browser and Web services
• Write software on one platform and run it on virtually any other platform
• Make server-side applications for online polls, forums, stores, HTML forms processing, and more
• Combine services or applications using the Java programming language to create highly customized applications or services
• Write powerful and operative applications for mobile phones, remote processors, low-cost consumer products, and practically any other device with a digital heartbeat

The Java platform works as an end-to-end infrastructure that gives IT managers an extremely wide variety of compatible business logic applications, independent of their application server or portal server vendor - whether it is BEA, IBM, Oracle, or Sun. It meaningly spreads their reach and interactivity among employees, customers, and partners. Just as important, IT managers know there is a global ecosystem of Java developers, support engineers, and knowledge bases to reduce the risk and time to deployment as well as the ongoing cost of ownership and maintenance.

The main release versions of the Sun Java Software Development Kit comprise significant API changes that give extra programming features built upon the core Java software platform. That means that the basic features of the Java language do not change from one release to the next, so most existing programs will run successfully when compiled with the new SDK.

Some core packages may gain additional features in new Java releases, but it is very rare for established API features to be removed, which would break backwards compatibility. Superseded or difficult API methods are usually marked deprecated before they are removed altogether, to give programmers the chance to upgrade their code to the new standard. Deprecated classes and methods can still be used to develop and run Java programs, but the compiler will issue warnings.