Java

What is Java technology and why do I need it? Java is a programming language and computing platform first released by Sun Microsystems in 1995. It has grown from humble beginnings to power a large part of today's digital world by providing a reliable platform on which to build many services and applications. New, innovative products and digital services for the future will also continue to rely on Java.

While most modern Java applications combine a Java runtime with an application, there are still many applications and even some websites that won't work unless you have desktop Java installed. Java.com, this website, is designed for users who still need to use Java in their desktop applications - specifically for Java 8 applications. Developers and users who want to learn Java programming should visit the dev.java website, and business users should visit oracle.com/java for more information.

Is Java free to download? Yes, Java is free to download for personal use. Java development is free: developers can be found at https://www.oracle.com/javadownload/ all the development kit, and other useful tools.

Why should I upgrade to the latest Java patch at the prompt every quarter? The latest Java patches contain important enhancements to improve the performance, stability, and security of Java applications running on your machine. Installing these updates will ensure that your Java applications continue to run with the latest version.

More technical information

What do I get when I download Java software from java.com? When you download Java software from java.com, you get Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version 8.

The JRE consists of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Java platform core classes, and libraries that support the Java platform. The JRE is the runtime portion of Java software that is all you need to run a Java WebStart application from a supported web browser. However, it does not come with development tools - these tools are part of the Java Development Kit (JDK).

What is Java Plug-in Software?

The Java Plug-in is a component of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). The JRE allows some applications written in the Java programming language to be launched through certain browsers. Java Plug-in software is not a standalone program and cannot be installed separately.

I've heard the terms Java Virtual machine and JVM. Is this Java software? The Java Virtual Machine is just a portion of the Java software involved in running an application. The Java Virtual Machine is built into the Java software download and is part of the JRE to help run Java applications.