Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language that was developed by Sun Microsystems in the mid-1990s. It is designed to be platform-independent, meaning that Java code can run on any device or operating system that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. Java is known for its security features, which make it a popular choice for developing web applications and mobile apps. It is also used for developing enterprise-level software, such as financial and healthcare systems. Java is constantly evolving, with new versions and updates being released regularly to improve performance and add new features.