Java is basically an OOP programming language like C, C++, etc. but with some advanced features. This was developed and designed by James Gosling and the team in early 1995. Java programming includes many features like concurrent, dynamic, multithread, secured, etc. that make it easy to use.
Moreover, another great feature that this coding language involves is that its “Platform independence”. Java programming is an application development platform with lesser implementation dependencies. That’s why many users use it for developing dynamic apps for various devices. Like laptops, mobile phones, data centers, and other useful gadgets.
Similarly, the Java platform is a collection of various programs that developers use to develop & run its apps effectively. This platform involves a compiler, a library set, and an execution engine to perform well.
There are many uses of apps within this programming language. Such as;-
Useful for developing (Mobile) Android apps
Programming for hardware devices and gadgets
Helps to build Enterprise Software
Useful for Big Data analytics
Applicable in mobile applications
It is also useful for many server-side technologies.
These are some of the features and uses of this language that we are familiar with. But there are some other advantages also of using this coding platform. Let us move on further in this blog regarding the platform independence feature of this programming language.
Before going in-depth in this subject, we should know why Java programming is platform-independent?
What is platform-independent in Java?
In simple terms, the meaning of “platform-independent” refers to the software that can run on different platforms. These may be either hardware or software architectures. Moreover, Java programming is designed to run on multiple platforms and on operating systems also. There is a JRE/Runtime Environment within it which is a platform for this programming language.
While compiling Java programs using the javac compiler, it produces a unique Bytecode to run on various operating systems. This code is unlike other programming languages. Generally, the byte code produced by this language needs JVM (Java Virtual Machine) only. Here, the compiler only generates executable code for a specific machine.
When the Java program runs on any machine, then it is sent to the Java compiler where it converts it to byte code. Besides, this code is sent to JVM that stays within the RAM of an OS. Thus, JVM identifies the platform that it’s running on and converts it into the native machine language. Therefore, we can say that this is a platform-independent programming language.
But the JVM or Java Virtual Machine is a platform-dependent here.
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A brief about Platform
A platform is a combination of software and hardware that offers the ecosystem to run any program. It can run on any computer system and an operating system too. These operating systems can be Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. Moreover, to run a program it needs to convert the program into machine language using a code. Then, we can run the program easily.
Describing the process in detail
Basically, a program is written in a high-level language (HLL) (i.e. human-readable language) that includes many phrases, words, etc. And this cannot be understood by a machine in a general form. Therefore, it needs to be converted into a machine level language (MLL). The compiler makes it possible. Besides, the compiler is a kind of program that transforms the code from High-level (or coding language) to machine level language. This code or script can be a series of instructions that are directly performed by the CPU or can be sent to the JVM or Virtual Machine.
Moreover, when a program is developed and compiled within C or C++ language, the code is directly transformed into MLL. This code or script is produced in the form of a .exe file. This produced .exe file can run only on a particular OS. This refers to when the program is compiled in Windows; the OS .exe file can run only in Windows OS. And it doesn’t run on other OS.
What happens in Java comparing to other languages?
As we have discussed above the Java compiler converts the code to Bytecode to execute it on any other OS. Moreover, there are some other features that help it become platform-independent. These important and very useful features are as follows;-
Portable
We can say that this language is a portable Bytecode programming language. Thus, it offers a different level of portable features like- Source code portability, OS-level portability, and CPU structure level portability.
Multithreading
This refers to it has the ability to perform multiple tasks at a time. Due to multithread functionality, it executes different tasks in parallel. The feature helps to save time, memory, and resources too. Again, the same memory and resources are used by different threads running parallel.
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Object-oriented programming (OOP)
This coding language supports object-oriented programming feature that makes it more extendable coding language.
There are a few OOP concepts of this coding platform such as;
Object
Class
Encapsulation
Polymorphism
Inheritance
1) Object
The object class within OOP is logical as well as a physical entity. This entity includes a state and behavior such as anything like a chair, pen, table, motorbike, etc. Moreover, the object has three different features such as identity, state, and behavior.
Besides, the object is a real-world entity with runtime, state, behavior, and instance of a class.
2) Class
A class within this OOP concept of the Java language is a group of various objects having coming properties. Furthermore, this is a logical entity and it cannot be physical. The common things that a class includes within this coding language are; - fields, blocks, methods, nested class & inheritance, and constructors. All these have their respective advantages and uses.
3) Encapsulation
This is the process of combining code and data together into one unit similarly like a capsule we see. Java language offers us to build a fully encapsulated class by making the class members private. The “Java Bean” is the best example of the encapsulation process. Besides, there are some useful benefits to this process also. Such as; we can make a read or write-only class, we can have control over the data, data hiding, etc. Further, there are easy testing options in this class. Also, there are standard IDE’s that help to build easy & fast encapsulated classes in this coding language.
4) Inheritance
Inheritance is a type of mechanism where a single object obtains all the properties and characters of a parent object. Therefore, it’s a major part of the OOP concept. The best use of this mechanism is for method overriding and code reusability. Moreover, the idea behind the inheritance in OOP is to build new classes upon existing classes. There are some important terms that we use in the inheritance like- class, superclass, subclass, and reusability.
5) Polymorphism
The process refers to “many forms” and it appears when there are many classes linked with each other by inheritance. It performs a single action in many different ways. Moreover, there are two different types of Polymorphism in this language such as compile-time and runtime. Here, the runtime method is a process where a call to the overridden method is solved at runtime. The example of the compile-time method includes the overloading of a static method in this coding language.
Security
The problem that comes with every software coding or compiling is its security which is crucial. But when we come to the Java language, it’s a highly secure language among others. The way it executes its programs make itself and the system very secure. Moreover, it mostly runs on JRE or Java Runtime Environment with the OS that makes it more secure.
Performance
Coming to performance it’s very good and effective due to having JIT- Just-in-Time system. The JIT compiler usage makes it a high-performance language among others.
Simple to understand and use
The programming language Java is very easy and simple to use but one should know about the OOP concept within it. This concept helps to understand this language well.
Robust
This programming language is very robust in the performance and execution of codes. It works faster and provides the necessary results to the users quickly. Using this programming language, many apps can be produced in less time.
JRE (Java Runtime Environment)
JRE is a type of software layer that helps to run other software easily. This includes many things like libraries, JVM, loaders of classes, etc. It also includes various tools for development like a compiler, debugger, etc. There are some package classes also within this. It is one of the three interlinked components useful for developing and running Java programs. They are JDK and JVM.
Use of JVM
JVM machine executes the live apps of this coding language. Further, it stores the following information within the method area.
An absolute name of the loaded class and its very next parent class
It stores whether .class file is linked to Class or any Interface
The JVM also stores modifiers, variables, and method information, etc.
The reason to use JVM here is that-
JVM offers a platform-independent way of running Java source code or byte code.
It includes several libraries, development tools, and frameworks.
Once the Java program runs, users can run it on any platform and it also saves lots of time.
Moreover, JVM includes a JIT compiler that changes the source code into low-level machine language. Further, it runs faster and robustly than a regular app.
Hence, these are a few uses of JVM.
Different types of Java platforms
There are a few types of platforms in this programming language. These are as follows;-
Java Platform, Standard Edition (SE) –
Here, the API provides this coding language’s major functionality. This edition describes the base for all the types and objects to a high-level class. Moreover, this is mostly useful for security, networking, database access, etc.
Platform Java, Enterprise Edition (EE) –
This EE edition also offers an API and runtime environment for various purposes. Such as building and running large scale apps, multi-tiered, and most reliable applications, etc.
Java Coding Language Platform, Micro Edition (ME) -
The ME edition platform provides an API and a piece of VM running this coding language apps on small devices, like cell phones.
Java FX:
This is a platform useful for developing rich internet apps with the help of a lightweight UI-API. It includes user hardware-based graphics or GUI and media that help it take benefit of higher-performance clients. And it also provides a good/modern look and high-level APIs for linking to networked data sources.
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Requirements to run the Java program
There are some pre-requirements to run a Java program on a native system. Here, we need JDK or Java Development Kit to develop any kind of application in this platform and implement it well. The JDK is enough to install the required software efficiently.
Generally, the JDK includes the following items-
JRE- Java Runtime Environment
Java JVM- Java Virtual Machine
Compiler (Javac)
Document producer
And other tools and libraries that are important.
Summing Up
The overall information about the Java programming language’s platform independence gives us an idea about the byte code, JVM, etc. We learned about how this programming language can be platform-independent. The process explains the usage of Java language on different platforms and in building apps. To learn more on this concept in a practical way from experts’ view, go through the Java Online Training with industry experts.