Java is a high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle) in 1995. It is platform-independent, which means that Java code can run on any platform that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. Java is designed to be secure, portable, and robust, making it a popular choice for developing enterprise applications, web and mobile applications, and games. Java is also commonly used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Android mobile devices, and other embedded systems.