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Conclusion

Java is a large and complex programming language – but it is also capable of solving large and complex problems.

This book has introduced you to all the key features of Java Standard Edition (Java SE), and you are now well placed to use Java to solve interesting real world problems, and, just importantly, capable of using the very latest version of Java, and all the new features it has to offer.

In many ways, however, this book has only scratched the surface of what Java is capable of achieving. As I mentioned in the introduction, Java is now primarily used as a server-side language, and is the power behind many of the Web’s most popular web sites. This power is unlocked via a set of APIs called Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE).

This book has not introduced Java EE, but it has left you in a strong position to start investigating it yourself if you choose. Before learning advanced features such as Java EE, it is essential that you have a strong grounding in the language fundamentals – and this is what this book has provided you with.

If you would like to write server-side Java applications, you actually have two choices: