API stands for Application Programming Interface, an API can define how a programmer can access a functionality within a library of code. Java Application Programming Interface is a library of classes, interfaces with their methods, constructors that come with JDK.
Java API
what is Java API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface, an API can define how a programmer can access a functionality within a library of code. Java Application Programming Interface is a library of classes, interfaces with their methods, constructors that come with JDK. Java API included in JDK that describes the component that are prewritten in java and programmer has to use these code through Java API..In java most task are done by API classes and packages. In Java all API classes are within a package. Java Development Kit(JDK) is comprised of three basic component. These are :
- Java Compiler.
- Java Virtual Machine.
- Java application Programming Interface(API).
There are three types of Java Application Programming Interfaces(API) .
- Official core Java API that consstained in JDK.or JRE - It is a part of JDK. There are three edition of Java Platform are Java SE(Standard Edition), Java ME(Micro Edition) and Java EE(Micro Edition).
- Optional official API that can be downloaded separately and specification of these API are according to JSR(Java Specification Request).
- Unofficial APIs that is developed by third parties and that are downloaded from source website.
Official core Java APIs:-
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Abstract Window Toolkit (awt) | Contain all classes for creating user interfaces. |
| Beans | Contain classes to develop beans. |
| Image | Contain all classes for creating and modifying images. |
| Java IO | Contain all classes for system input and system output through DataStream serialization and file system. |
| Java drag and Drop | That provide a mechanism to transfer information between two entities logically associated with presentation element in GUI. |
| Java Data Base Connectivity | Contain classes to connect java application with the database. |
Optional APIs :-
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Java Help | A full featured help system that enable you for online help in applet ,operating system and devices. |
| Java Media Framework | That allow you to add audio video to java application and applet |
| Java Naming and Directory interfaces | Java Naming and Directory interfaces - for directory services . |
| Java Mail | That allow you to build mail and messaging application. |
| Java 3D | A scene graph based 3D API. |
| Java Open GL | A wrapper library for Open GL. |