2.1. What Is Java?
The name Java is applied to a variety of technologies created by Sun Microsystems. While the reader will instantly associate Java with a programming language (which it most certainly is), in actuality Java is also much more. There are three main components of Java:
The Java programming language— a programming language used to write software for the Java platform
The Java platform— a range of runtime environments that support execution of software written in Java
The Java API— a rich, fully featured class library that provides graphical user interface, data storage, data processing, I/O, and networking support
Each of these parts is equally important, and is discussed individually below.
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