features of Java.:

Java has many advanced features when compared to other programming languages.

· Compiled and Interpreted

· Platform-Independent and Portable

· Object-Oriented

· Robust and Secure

· Distributed

· Familiar, Simple and Small

· Multithreaded and Interactive

· High Performance

· Dynamic and Extensible

Compiled and Interpreted: First, Java compiler translates source code into bytecode instructions. Bytecodes are not machine instructions and therefore, in the second stage, Java interpreter generates machine code that can be directly executed by the machine that is running the Java program. We can thus say that Java is both a compiled and an interpreted language.

Platform-Independent and Portable: Java programs can be easily moved from one computer system to another, anywhere and anytime. Changes and upgrades in operating systems, processors and system resources will not force any changes in Java programs. This is the reason why Java has become a popular language for programming on Internet.

Object-Oriented: Java is a true object-oriented language. Almost everything in Java is an object. All program code and data reside within objects and classes. Java comes with an extensive set of classes, arranged in packages, that we can use in our programs by inheritance. The object model in Java is simple and easy to extend.

Robust and Secure: Java is a robust language. It provides many safeguards to ensure reliable code. It has strict compile time and run time checking for data types and errors. It provides automatic garbage-collection. Java also allows exception handling to catch runtime errors.

Java systems not only verify all memory access but also ensure that no viruses are communicated with an applet. The absence of pointers in Java ensures that programs cannot gain access to memory locations without proper authorization.

Distributed: Java is designed as a distributed language for creating applications on networks. It has the ability to share both data and programs. Java applications can open and access remote objects on Internet. This enables multiple programmers at remote locations to collaborate and work together on a single project.

Simple, Small and Familiar: Java is a small and simple language. Familiarity is another important feature of Java. To make the language look familiar to the existing programmers, it was modeled on C and C++ languages. Java uses many constructs of C and C++ and therefore, Java code "looks like a C++" code. In fact, Java is a simplified version of C++.

Multithreaded and Interactive: Multithreaded means handling multiple tasks simultaneously. Java supports multithreaded programs; This means that we need not wait for the application to finish one task before beginning another. For example, we can listen to an audio clip while scrolling a page and at the same time download an applet from a distant computer.

High Performance: Java architecture is designed to reduce overheads during runtime. Further, the incorporation of multithreading enhances the overall execution speed of Java programs.

Dynamic and Extensible: Java is a dynamic language. Java is capable of dynamically linking in new class libraries, methods, and objects. Java programs support functions written in other languages such as C and C++. These functions are known as native methods. This facility enables the programmers to use the efficient functions available in these languages.