Types of Java

Learn via video course
FREE
View all courses
Java Course - Mastering the Fundamentals
Java Course - Mastering the Fundamentals
by Tarun Luthra
1000
5
Start Learning
Java Course - Mastering the Fundamentals
Java Course - Mastering the Fundamentals
by Tarun Luthra
1000
5
Start Learning
Topics Covered

Overview

Java technology functions as both a platform and a programming language. High-level object-oriented language Java has a specific syntax and structure. A Java platform is a specific setting where Java programming language programs can be used. Java platforms are divided into four editions, Java Standard Edition (Java SE), Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE), Java Micro Edition (Java ME), and JavaFX.

What are the Various Types of Java?

The Four Types of Java:

  1. Java Standard Edition (Java SE),
  2. Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE), and
  3. Java Micro Edition (Java ME).
  4. JavaFX

All these Java editions consist of an API (Application Programming Interface) and JVM (Java Virtual Machine). The tool called the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is used to run Java programs on a certain platform. An API is used to build other software parts or programs. A virtual machine and an API are provided by each Java platform to enable the programs created for that platform to run on any compatible system and take full use of the benefits of the Java programming language.

Java Platforms

The Java Programming Language Platforms

Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE)

The Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE) is made up of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that provide Java's fundamental programming features. It specifies every aspect of the Java programming language, from its fundamental types and objects to its high-level classes for security, Graphical User Interface development, database manipulation, networking, etc.

The Java SE Platform Includes:

  1. JVM (Java Virtual Machine),
  2. JDK (Java Development Kit),
  3. JRE (Java Run-time Environment), and
  4. Various class libraries.

These components of Java SE are frequently used in Java technology applications in extension to the main APIs.

Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE)

The Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) was developed to expand the Java SE with the addition of a collection of standards/specifications that describe frequently used features by commercial applications. The most recent version of this edition includes more than 40 specifications that assist programmers in building applications that use web services to exchange data, transform object-relational data into entity-relationship models, manage transactional interactions, and other things.

The most used features of Java EE are:

  1. Java Server Pages (JSP): It is a server-side programming language that makes possible to construct dynamic, device-independent ways to build web-based applications.
  2. Java Server Faces (JSF): The JSF API offers elements such as inputText, commandButtons, and others and assists in managing their states. Additionally, it offers data translation, server-side validation, etc.
  3. Java Persistence API (JPA): Java developers get access to an object/relational mapping mechanism through the Java Persistence API, to manage relational data in Java applications.
  4. Enterprise Java Beans (EJB): It is one of the many Java APIs used for the development of corporate applications. EJB is a server-side software component that defines an application's business logic.

Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME)

Java Micro Edition was developed to facilitate mobile and embedded device applications. This edition is not quite as popular as other editions like Java SE and Java EE, but recently, the Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets have given this technology new hope. The Java ME platform offers an API and a small-footprint virtual machine that helps in running Java ME applications on compact devices.

Some examples of Java ME applications are given below:

  1. Calculator for Mobile which demonstrates the functionality of multi-threading.
  2. GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) applications.
  3. Location APIs, etc.

JavaFX

JavaFX is a platform that provides a modern, hardware-accelerated graphics and media engine for building rich online and desktop applications with a simple and powerful scripting language (JavaFX Script) to enable the development of rich online applications, GUI applications, and Desktop applications. It was created in Java to take the place of Swing as the default GUI library.

Some applications of JavaFX are given below:

  1. NEOS – New Eurovision Operations System used in the area of Television media.
  2. Quote Monitor application is used in the field of finance.
  3. GEONS Ground System Software (GGSS) Nasa is used in the field of space technology.
  4. FORUM Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is used in the field of medicines.

Conclusion

  • Java platforms are divided into four editions, Java Standard Edition (Java SE), Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE), Java Micro Edition (Java ME), and JavaFX.
  • The Java Standard Edition (Java SE) is made up of APIs that provide Java's fundamental features like security, networking, GUI development, etc.
  • The Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) was developed to expand the Java SE with the addition of a collection of specifications that describe frequently used features by commercial applications.
  • The Java Micro Edition (Java ME) was developed to facilitate mobile and embedded device applications.
  • The JavaFX platform uses a simple API to enable the development of rich online applications.