FOTO: www.sun.com

Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, designed to run on the web. When you see a web page that uses Java, a program called "applet" is executed automatically. Java applets let you watch moving text, play music and interact with information on the screen.
Java is an object-oriented language similar to C++, but it's more dynamic. A Java program is both compiled and interpreted. First the source code is compiled and converted into a format called bytecode, which can be executed by a Java interpreter. Compiled Java code can run on most computers.
Java is can have multiple threads (parts), i.e. many different things processing independently and continuously.
People are excited about Java because it lets you create animated images and drawings. You can also create graphical objects and new "controls". A web page that uses Java can have sounds that play in real-time, background music, cartoon style animations, real-time video and interactive games.
One alternative technology is ActiveX, the Microsoft product for including multimedia effects on web pages. Another competitor is Macromedia's Shockwave, a plug-in that lets you animate pictures, add sound and make interactive pages.
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