A high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language.
The Java programming language is defined by a specific set of characteristics, famously known as the "Java Buzzwords":
In Java, source code is written in .java files, which are compiled by the javac compiler into .class files containing Bytecode. This bytecode is the machine language of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Because the JVM is available on many OSs (Windows, Linux, Mac), the same bytecode runs everywhere—"Write Once, Run Anywhere".
Initiated by James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton. Originally called "Oak".
Sun Microsystems released the first public implementation. It promised "Write Once, Run Anywhere".
A major milestone. Platforms were split into J2EE (Enterprise), J2SE (Standard), and J2ME (Mobile).
Sun released much of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) as free and open-source software.
Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems and became the steward of Java technology.
Sun defined four editions of Java targeting different application environments: