There are three main reasons for using the JAVA programming language over other choices: portability, simplicity of coding, and widespread use; especially in web development. Java is completely portable between different operating systems (Mac, Linux, and Windows). This is because the code you write is only partially finished after it is compiled by the programmer. The rest of the work is performed on the user’s computer using the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

There is a JVM for each major operating system, and after being downloaded and installed by the user, it completes the Java code that the programmer wrote. The JVM adds in commands specific to the operating system it is installed on to make the program run correctly for that operating system. So the JVM for a Macintosh will add in Macintosh specific code and the JVM for Windows will add in Windows specific code.

This portability has lead to Java being used widely, especially for the web development industry. Since web based applications run on multiple operating systems it was essential to have a programming language, such as Java, that could run on any operating system. Today Java is everywhere, and is used for most major web applications.

Another factor is Java’s increased use is its simplicity of programming in comparison to other languages, especially C++. Java enforces error checking, eliminates pointers, cannot be written without using object oriented design, and prevents bad programming practices by building these functions directly into Java’s grammar. These features make Java a much simpler (and much less error prone) then many other languages that do not have these restrictions.

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