Java is a widely-used, object-oriented programming language known for its portability and versatility. It’s designed to run on any platform that supports Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Key features include strong typing, automatic memory management, and a rich standard library. Java’s syntax is similar to C++, making it accessible to many developers. It’s commonly used in web development, enterprise software, mobile applications, and more. Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode, which can be executed on any JVM. Its popularity stems from its reliability, security features, and extensive community support, making it an essential language for many software development projects.