What's the difference between Java (programming language) and Java (Control Panel)? [closed]

Question

Probably a stupid question but I would like to know. Not even sure what the technical name is (so feel free to edit question if it's unclear) but by "Java Control Panel" I'm referring to the component you find in Windows control panel:

I went to the java homepage but I'm still not sure... is the Java component you see in Control Panel simply a collection of Java programs built-in to all computers? If so, what exactly does it do? Is it only relevant to the Internet or is it necessary to run other applications or the operating system itself?

Answer 1

They are both parts of the same ecosystem.

The 'Java' you see in the Windows Control Panel is a Setting Option for the Java Virtual Machine, which is installed on your PC. A virtual machine understands its own bytecode and translates it for your CPU.

The 'Java' programming language is a computer programming language which allows you to write programs on top of this virtual machine. Java programs are compiled into Java bytecode and then executed by the JVM.

Answer 2

Java programming language is how you instruct java to do what with allowable set of statements which gets compiled using Java compiler and which gets executed by Java runtime environment (jvm)

when you install Java, it hooks into operating system settings (for windows family of operating system it is in control panel) it holds settings

which internally launches an executable jcontrol which comes with java installation

it holds Java runtime's configuration

The Java Control Panel is a multipurpose control panel. It allows you to view and set a wide range of parameters controlling how, or if, Java technology runs on your computer. It lets you view and delete temporary files used by the Java Plug-in, which allows Java technology to be used by your Web browser to run applets; and Java Web Start, which allows you to run Java applications over the network. It allows you to control certificates, making it safe to run applets and applications over the network. It enables you to view an active deployment rule set, and to manage the exception site list. It allows you to set runtime parameters for applets that run with Java Plug-in and applications that run with Java Web Start. It provides a mechanism for updating your version of the Java platform so that you always have the latest Java Runtime Environment (JRE). And it allows you to set options for debugging, applet handling, etc. The Java Control Panel includes the following separately viewable panels: