Top 16+ Java Applications: Explained in Detail

First developed in 1995, Java remains one of the most popular programming languages. Although Python and SQL are used more, Java remains a popular language among developers. According to Statista, 48% of developers used Java in the last year 2022. Java applications shine in mobile, web, and enterprise applications. It is a popular programming language with numerous applications in various industries. 

So, if you want to build a strong career as a Programmer and Developer, it is time to learn about the Applications of Java. This blog will explore the top real-world Java Applications across various domains while also delving into the reasons behinds Java popularity and large market share. So, keep reading to learn more!

Table of Contents

1) Why is Java so popular as a programming language?

2) Top real-world Java Applications

    a) Mobile Application Development

    b) Web Based Applications

    c) Desktop GUI Applications

    d) Web Servers and Application Servers 

    e) Mobile Gaming Applications

    f) Enterprise Applications

    g) Big Data Applications

    h) Embedded Systems Applications

    i) Cloud Base Applications

    j) Scientific Applications

3) Conclusion

Why is Java so popular as a programming language?

Java is an old programming language, yet; many applications run using this language. From mobile app development to enterprise applications, Java is still going strong. Although modern-day Programmers usually opt for Python, Java has some characteristics which make it so popular even today. 

Java is independent of the platform, meaning you don’t need to change any code to run it on a different operating system. With Java, it is possible to compile the code on one operating system and run it on another. 

Java is highly scalable, meaning any application can adapt to changing needs. It is also very secure because of its ability to verify each bytecode coming in from external sources. 

Java has strong community support, which makes it easier for someone to learn the programming language and get help if stuck at some point. These were only just some of the reasons why Java is so popular. As you read further, you will understand its benefits and why it is so popular.
 

Real-world Java Applications

Java is a programming language used in almost every domain. Here are some of the top real-world Applications of Java programming language:

1) Mobile Application Development

Java's versatility and compatibility with Mobile App Development tools such as Kotlin and Android Studio make it the go-to programming language for developing Android applications. Java Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME or Java ME) is an essential feature of Java programming language that enables cross-platform support for building mobile applications.  

Its strong community support and diverse ecosystem make it an excellent programming language for Mobile App Development. Despite newer Developers favouring Python or JavaScript frameworks for rapid deployment, Java is still considered the official programming language for Mobile App Developers. 

Also, Java's Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles provide better security and simplicity with Android, a crucial consideration for many developers. Some popular mobile apps developed using Java are:

a) Netflix

b) LinkedIn

c) Google Earth

d) Uber

e) Amazon

2) Web-Based Applications

Java can interact with many systems, making it an apt choice for developing Web Applications. With support for Servlets, JSPs or Struts, creating any web application using Java is efficient. 

Although many new programmers prefer Python because of its faster code deployment, Java is still preferred where efficient and scalable language is required. Apart from this, there are several benefits of using Java for web applications, like superior security features, a wide range of APIs and code reusability.

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3) Desktop GUI Applications

Users interact with an application or program using visual indicators like icons, menus, buttons, etc., through the Graphic User Interface (GUI). Desktop applications are usually developed with APIs like Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT), Java Foundation Classes (JFC) and Swing. 

Swing is a Java-based GUI widget toolkit that provides components like tables, tabbed panels, scroll panes, and lists and responds to all mouse-click events, key entries, etc. JavaFX is another way of developing modern desktop applications, but it is different from Swing or AWT as it is graph-based. 

Java has several benefits, including visual feedback, ease of learning, simultaneous display of multiple instances, and many more. Some of the popular desktop applications developed using Java are:

a) Acrobat Reader

b) Google Docs

c) Thinkfree

4) Web Servers and Application Servers

Web Servers are programs that handle websites hosted on them and deliver web pages to the end-users. Similarly, the Application Server is a framework that stores business logic and handles operations between the client end and back end. 

Java ecosystem has various web servers and application servers. Some widely used Java Web Servers are Apache Tomcat, Rinfaxe Web Server, Adobe JRun, Rimfaxe Web Server (RWS) and Project Jigsaw. Popular Java Application servers include GlassFish, WebLogic, WebSphere and JBoss EAP.

5) Mobile Gaming Applications

Java is a general-use programming language that can be used to program any application, even games. jMonkey Engine is a gaming engine that is based on Java. It is an open-source 3D game engine that Indie Developers mostly use. Even though it is not very popular, it is a potent engine backed by its community. The engine also receives periodic updates. One of the most popular games, Minecraft, was first made on Java.  

However, game engines based on Java programming language aren't used a lot, but it still finds application in developing Android games. Java is used for Android games because it supports Dalvik Virtual Machine (DVM). DVM is specifically designed to run on the Android platform. Some of the popular games developed using Java are as follows:

a) Saints Row 2 (Mobile)

b) RuneScape

c) Minecraft

d) Wakfu

6) Enterprise Applications

Enterprise Applications are like mainstream consumer applications but are explicitly built to solve business problems. They are built with scalability, reliability and security in mind. Since businesses depend on them for their activities, they must be highly robust and reliable. 

This is where Java comes in. Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) is a powerful API that provides all the tools and resources to build a large-scale, reliable Enterprise Application. Some examples of Enterprise Applications are CRM tools, payment processing, Project Management tools, billing systems, etc. 

Security and scalability are two important considerations for a growing organisation, and Java provides that. Java runs inside the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which verifies every bytecode coming in from the external system and enhances its security. Java also has a strong memory management feature that automatically deletes unused memory.

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7) Big Data Applications

Big Data refers to the huge number of datasets that can be used to analyse patterns and trends. Such applications help businesses in reading and analysing such large and complex data. Big Data gave rise to the Data Analysis profession, and now many companies are employing Big Data technologies to make better business decisions. 

Written in Java, Hadoop is an open-source framework made for Big Data technology. The Automatic Garbage Collection feature makes memory management efficient, a priority for such applications. Similarly, sub-projects of Hadoop like Apache Spark and Mahout are some of the most prominent Big Data technologies. Other Big Data Applications like open-source Accumulo, HBase and ElasticSearch use Java in some form.

8) Embedded Systems Applications

An Embedded System is a smaller application unit which is part of a more extensive system or application. An Embedded System, also called an Integrated System, is a combination of hardware and software built for a specific purpose. Java is an efficient programming language for creating Embedded Systems owing to its low memory consumption for such applications. The programming language used in the infotainment system in cars, mobile networking, and media players are some Embedded Systems that are widely used.

9) Cloud-Based Applications

Cloud Computing refers to the applications, software or services that are rendered via the internet without any need for managing at the user’s end. Cloud-Based Applications are plenty and many such applications use Java programming language.

Oracle Java Cloud services is one of the most popular Cloud Development tools that provide a platform to develop and configure Oracle servers. Java also has a host of features that enables the development of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) tools and platforms.

Popular cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) allow the use of Java to host applications on the cloud. Because Java is a typed language and there are fewer runtime errors, it is easy to manage cloud applications using Java programming language.

10) Scientific Applications

This is the primary niche for Java Application, but it provides all the tools and capabilities to build one. Scientific Applications refer to an application that is used to simulate real-world activities using mathematical models. 

Java is efficient in computing complex mathematical models compared to other programming languages, which is why Java is used here. One of the most famous Scientific Applications, MATLAB, is built on Java. Both the front-end and back-end use Java in the case of MATLAB. 

11) J2ME Applications

While Android and iOS are the two dominant operating systems for mobile phones and do not primarily use Java, others use Java for their interface. Products like non-smartphones, media players, smart TV, set-up boxes, etc., build their software on J2ME. It is an essential feature of Java programming language that enables cross-platform support for building such applications.

12) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications

Even though Python is the preferred language for modern-day Developers, Java can still be used for AI applications. Developing an AI algorithm is easier on Java because it is an object-oriented programming language and independent of the platform. 

Adding to this, the scalability of Java makes it easy for the AI application to scale with the requirements. Java also supports a host of AI libraries and can integrate existing tools and libraries into the application. Apache Jena and PowerLoom are popular Java frameworks used for developing AI applications. 

13) Distributed Applications

Applications that run on multiple clients or computers while communicating to a server are called Distributed Applications. While traditional applications can only run one instance on a single computer, Distributed Applications allow it to run simultaneously on multiple computers. 

Developing Distributed Applications can be challenging as the servers and the systems are dynamic. The Java Intelligent Networking Infrastructure (JINI) is a Java-based infrastructure that provides distributed services. Digital banking, web browsers, and airline ticketing are some domains where Distributed Applications are used.

14) Software Tools

Software Tools are programs used by Developers to help develop, debug, maintain, analyse and support other applications. Many popular Software Tools offer features like version control, debugging, code completion, etc. IntelliJ Idea, Eclipse, Visual Editor and NetBeans IDE are popular software tools. 

15) Financial Server Applications

The main priority for a Financial Application is security. Java has enhanced security because it runs inside the Java Virtual Machine that verifies every bytecode. Java is usually used for developing server-side applications for financial institutions. Some leading institutions that use Java for their server-side applications are Barclays, CitiGroup and Goldman Sachs.

16) Java Business Applications 

Large-scale organisations frequently use the Java EE or Java Platform to solve the colossal and wide-reaching problems they encounter. These solutions, made in the form of Java Applications, are multitiered, secure and scalable, and Java EE helps them in this venture. With its Enterprise Jave Beans (EJB), Java Authentication and Authorisation Service (JAAS) and Java Persistence APIs (JPA) powered Business logic solutions, the Java Platform lets developers develop robust but relatively less complex solutions.

17) Trading Applications 

Owing to its excellent performance and scalability, and mature ecosystem with libraries designed for finance and trading, Java Platform has become a popular tool for developing Trading Applications. Popular applications like Murex, XTB Trading Platform, Bloomberg Terminal and many such Algorithmic Trading platforms have been developed using Java or use Java for their analytics and data processing functionalities.

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Conclusion

Even though Java is not the most used programming language, Java Applications are found across industries. Java is used almost everywhere, from developing mobile games to secure, high-level enterprise applications. Contrary to many beliefs, Java is here to stay, and its usage will only grow.

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