Java is a general-purpose programming language and computing platform first released by Sun Microsystems in 1995.The two main components of the Java platform are the Java Application Programming Interface, which is a library of Java command lines, and the Java Virtual Machine that interprets Java code into machine language.
Java can be used by developers to:- Write software on one platform and run it on any other platform.- Create programs that can run within a web browser and access available web services.- Develop server-side applications for online forums, stores, polls, and more.- Combine applications or services using the Java language to create customized applications or services.- Write applications for mobile phones, remote processors, wireless modules, sensors, and practically any other electronic device.(Source: https://java.com/en/about/ and http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/newtojava/downloads/index.html)