Features of Java
Published: (February 5, 2026 at 12:15 AM EST)
2 min read
Source: Dev.to
Source: Dev.to

Key features of Java
1. Object‑oriented programming (OOP)
- Java follows the object‑oriented programming paradigm, which means it revolves around objects and classes.
- A class defines the structure of objects, and an object is an instance of a class that contains both data (attributes) and methods (functions).
- OOP promotes reusability, maintainability, and scalability of code. By organizing code into classes and objects, Java encourages modular development, making it easier to manage large codebases.
Disadvantages
- Can be more complex for beginners.
- OOP systems can be slower due to the overhead of objects.
2. Platform‑independent
- Java’s platform independence comes from its ability to run on any device or operating system that has the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed.
- Java programs are compiled into bytecode, which the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can execute on any platform.
- This allows developers to write code once and run it anywhere, minimizing the need to worry about different operating systems or hardware.
3. High performance
- Java offers high performance through Just‑in‑Time (JIT) compilation and other optimization techniques that improve execution speed.
- The code can be compiled to native machine code at runtime.
- High performance is useful for building responsive applications that handle large datasets and real‑time processing needs effectively.
4. Multithreaded
- Java supports multithreading, allowing multiple threads to run concurrently within a program.
- This improves efficiency by enabling applications to handle many tasks at once.
- Multithreading is essential for responsive and interactive applications, such as downloading files while processing user input simultaneously.
5. Robust
- Java is robust thanks to strong memory management, exception handling, and garbage collection mechanisms.
- Its strong type‑checking system minimizes errors during runtime.
6. Secure
- Java provides a secure environment through features like bytecode verification, automatic garbage collection, and a security manager that limits access to resources.
- The security model helps prevent unauthorized access and protects against malicious attacks, which is vital for applications dealing with sensitive data or remote systems.
7. Simple
- Java is considered simple to use due to its straightforward syntax, which is similar to C++.
- The language avoids complex features such as operator overloading, multiple inheritance, and pointers, making it easier to learn and use.