Java technology is both a programming language and
a platform. The Java programming language is a high-level object-oriented
language that has a particular syntax and style. A Java platform is an
environment in which Java programming language applications run.
There are four platforms of the Java programming
language:
·
Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE)
·
Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
·
Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME)
·
JavaFX
All Java platforms consist of a Java Virtual
Machine (JVM) and an application programming interface (API). The Java Virtual
Machine is a program, for a particular platform, that is used to run Java
applications. An API is like a library that is used to create other software
components or applications. Each Java platform provides a virtual machine and
an API, and this allows applications written for that platform to run on any
compatible system with all the advantages of the Java programming language.
Java SE's API provides the core functionality of
the Java programming language. Java SE defines the basic types and objects of
the Java programming language to high-level classes that are used for
networking, security, database access, graphical user interface (GUI)
development, and XML parsing.
In addition to the core API, the Java SE platform
consists of a virtual machine, development tools, deployment technologies, and
other class libraries and toolkits commonly used in Java technology
applications.
The Java EE platform is built on top of the Java SE
platform. The Java EE platform provides an API and runtime environment for
developing and running large-scale, multi-tiered, scalable, reliable, and
secure network applications.
The Java ME platform provides an API and a
small-footprint virtual machine for running Java programming language
applications on small devices, like mobile phones. The API is a subset of the
Java SE API, along with special class libraries useful for small device
application development. Java ME applications are often clients of Java EE
platform services.
JavaFX is a platform for creating rich internet
applications using a lightweight user-interface API. JavaFX applications use
hardware-accelerated graphics and media engines to take advantage of
higher-performance clients and a modern look-and-feel as well as high-level
APIs for connecting to networked data sources. JavaFX applications may be
clients of Java EE platform services. |
| Java Programming Language Platforms |