What is Java?
  • An Object Oriented Programming Language developed at Sun Microsystems
  • A Virtual Machine (run-time environment) that can be embedded in web browsers (such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and IBM WebExplorer) and operating system.
  • A standardized set of Class Libraries (packages), that support:
    • creating graphical user interfaces
    • controlling multimedia data
    • communicating over networks

Detailed description:

"In addition to the language and the virtual machine, Java consists of a number of classes called class libraries (or "packages" in Java terminology). These class libraries allow you to do various things. And each one is aimed at a particular domain. One class library is built to handle graphical user interfaces, or GUIs. Others control multimedia and networking, such as socket communications through TCP/IP. These three primary components make up the Java family of technology: language, virtual machine, and class libraries."