Java is a language that has become successful and popular because of the following features.
The Java programs compiled on one operating system can be
transferred and executed on any Operating System without modifications. This can be achieved through an application called Java Virtual Machine
or simply JVM
, as follows:
Once we create the java source code, we compile it using Java Compiler. The compiler then creates something called Java Byte code. This byte code can be copied and executed anywhere, even on mobile phones. Thus, Java is also called an Architecture Neutral
Language.
Java is the only language that is a purely object-oriented language. This means that every OOP concept is supported by Java. Also, it should be noted that even the main()
function needs to be defined under a class.
Java is a language that provides both compilation and interpretation of programs. Once the java program is created, it is compiled by Java Compiler. This compiled code (Byte code) can be executed using Java Interpreter.
With this feature, Java supports “Multitasking”. Multitasking is when multiple jobs are executed simultaneously. Multitasking improves CPU and Main Memory Utilization.
This is one of the important features that made Java popular. Assume that we created 100
functions in a program. In no case, would all the functions are executed. But, in languages like C, whether it’s required or not, all the functions are loaded into memory, which results in wasting memory. However, in Java, a function is not loaded into the memory until you call the function. So, functions are only loaded when they are called (i.e., at run-time).
The Java program is easy to build and implement when compared to languages like C
and C++
because most of the concepts in these languages that people felt were difficult or confusing have been eliminated in Java. Also, the concepts in C
and C++
that
programmers have enjoyed are included in Java.
As a robust language, Java provides many safeguards to ensure reliable code. It also provides an exception handling concept to handle logical errors that may crash a system. As a secured Language, Java makes sure that programs cannot gain access to memory locations without proper authorization. Java is a distributed language for creating networking applications, and it can share data and programs. Java applications provide mechanisms to open and access objects remotely.
Java architecture is designed to reduce overheads during run-time. The concept of multithreading in Java also increases the execution speed of Java programs.