Java is a class-based object-oriented programming language that was developed in 1995 by Sun Microsystems and later bought by Oracle. Java was designed as a general language capable of programming software for commercial use. It is based on several previous languages such as Objective C, C++, and C#. Java can be used on most major operating systems, including Windows, Apple, and Linux distributions. There is also a Java virtual machine, which allows programmers and developers to work on different operating systems within a single platform.