Java API

Java API is not but a set of classes and interfaces that comes with the JDK. Java API is actually a huge collection of library routines that performs basic programming tasks such as looping, displaying GUI form etc.

Java API

Java API is not but a set of classes and interfaces that comes with the JDK. Java API is actually a huge collection of library routines that performs basic programming tasks such as looping, displaying GUI form etc.

Java API

Java API

     

What is Java API?

Java API is not but a set of classes and interfaces that comes with the JDK. Java API is actually a huge collection of library routines that performs basic programming tasks such as looping, displaying GUI form etc.

In the Java API classes and interfaces are packaged in packages. All these classes are written in Java programming language and runs on the JVM. Java classes are platform independent but JVM is not platform independent. You will find different downloads for each OS.

The Java comprises three components:

  • Java Language
  • JVM or Java Virtual Machine and
  • The Java API (Java programming interface)

The Java language defines easy to learn syntax and semantics for Java programming language. Every programmer must understand these syntax and semantics to write program in Java language.

Type of Java API

There are three types of API available in Java Technology.

  • Official Java Core API
    The official core API is part of JDK download. The three editions of the Java programming language are Java SE, Java ME and Java EE.
      
  • Optional Java API
    The optional Java API can be downloaded separately. The specification of the API is defined according to the JSR request.
     
  • Unofficial APIs
    These API's are developed by third parties and can downloaded from the owner website.

Official Java Core API list

Name Acronym Package(s) that contain the API Description and Version History
Abstract Window Toolkit AWT java.awt First released with version 1.0.
Swing   javax.swing Included in J2SE 1.2 and later.
Accessibility   javax.accessibility  
Drag n Drop   java.awt.datatransfer
java.awt.dnd
 
Image I/O   javax.imageio
javax.imageio.*
 
Sound   javax.sound.midi
javax.sound.midi.spi
javax.sound.sampled
javax.sound.sampled.spi 
 
Java Database Connectivity JDBC java.sql
javax.sql 
 
Java Cryptography Extension JCE javax.crypto
javax.crypto.interfaces
javax.crypto.spec
Included as part of J2SE 1.4 and later. Available as an optional package to versions 1.2 and 1.3.
Java Authentication and Authorization Service JAAS javax.security.auth Included in J2SE 1.4 and later, previously released as an optional package with version 1.3.
Java Secure Socket Extension JSSE javax.net
javax.net.ssl
java.security.cert 
A set of packages that enable secure Internet communications. Included as part of J2SE 1.4 and later, JSSE 1.0.3 is an optional package to the Java 2 SDK, versions 1.2 and 1.3.
Java Native Interface JNI   Allows Java code running in the Java virtual machine (JVM) to call and be called[1] by native applications (programs specific to a hardware and operating system platform) and libraries written in other languages, such as C, C++ and assembly.

Optional Java API list

Name Acronym Description and Version History Available from
Java Advanced Imaging JAI An API which provides a set of interfaces that support a high-level programming model allowing to manipulate images easily.  
Java Communications API JCA    
Java Data Objects JDO A specification of Java object persistence .  
JavaHelp   A full-featured, extensible help system that enables you to incorporate online help in applets, components, applications, operating systems, and devices.  
Java Management Extensions JMX A technology that supplies tools for managing and monitoring applications , system objects, devices (e.g. printers ) and service oriented networks.  
Java Media Framework JMF An API that enables audio, video and other time-based media to be added to Java applications and applets.  
Java Naming and Directory Interface JNDI An API for directory services .  
Java Speech API JSAPI This API allows for speech synthesis  
Java 3D J3D A scene graph -based 3D API. available here
Java OpenGL JOGL A wrapper library for OpenGL . available here

Important Java API

As a programmer you must learn about the following important java APIs.