Java was developed by James Gosling in 1995. It was originally called OAK after a tree outside Gosling window, but was changed  later when he found out there already existed a language by that name. Today, Java is a high-level programming language that is widely used all over the world for a multitude of purposes, from developing web applications to designing games, and much more. Java is an Object Oriented Programming (OOP) language. The main features of OOP are:

• Abstraction
• Encapsulation
• Inheritance
• Polymorphism

OOPs are languages where objects are treated as an instance of a class. Java can run on any machine that has the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It is based on the WORA principle - Write Once, Read Anywhere. This is a virtual machine that translates the Java bytecode. The JVM is then translated by the compiler. This makes Java platform-independent. It is a general-purpose programming language that is used for numerous purposes. Small Java programs are called Java applets.

• It is a simple language to learn as the syntax is simple and easy to understand. The syntax draws heavily from predecessors - C and C++.
• It is platform independent and can run on any operating system or machine.
• Java has phenomenal security features and is resistant to malicious viruses.
• It is robust and has a strong memory management system.
• It is faster than traditional programming languages.
• It comes with a standard library that is equipped with tools to carry out a number of functions.

• Java is used to develop mobile applications
• Java is used to develop mobile applications
• It is used to write programs for embedded systems
• It finds application in writing web applications through Struts and JSPs
• By virtue of its ability to take on complex mathematical computations with ease, it is used in scientific research and academia.
• It is used to develop Desktop GUI applications