Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language known for its platform independence, robustness and security. Java can run on a variety of devices making it ideal for developers building a wide range of software applications. Creator James Gosling released Java in 1995 with a team of researchers at Sun Microsystems, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2009, as a secure and platform-independent programming language to develop applications for a variety of devices.