Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language that was developed by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle) in the mid-1990s. It is designed to be simple, easy to learn, and easy to read, making it a popular choice for beginners as well as experienced programmers.

Java is often used for building large-scale applications, such as web applications and enterprise applications, because of its scalability and ability to handle high levels of concurrent activity. It is also commonly used for building mobile applications, since it can be run on various devices and platforms.

Java is based on the concept of object-oriented programming, which means that it uses objects and classes to represent real-world entities and their relationships. This allows developers to create complex systems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts.

Java is compiled into bytecode, which is then executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This allows Java to be platform-independent, meaning that it can run on any device that has a JVM installed, regardless of the underlying hardware and operating system.

Overall, Java is a powerful and widely-used programming language that is used in a variety of contexts, including web development, mobile development, and enterprise development.