Java Installation
If you want to develop Java programs then install the java-1.8.0-openjdk-devel package. JDK 7 Debian, Ubuntu, etc. On the command line, type: $ sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre. The openjdk-7-jre package contains just the Java Runtime Environment. If you want to develop Java programs then install the openjdk-7-jdk package. The following instructions were composed for installing Sun Java 1.5.0_08 (aka JDK 5.0 update 8). This may not be the latest version, but it is the one that we are using this semester. Note: Java is already installed as part of Mac OS X, so no further installation is necessary for these machines. Ensure, though, that you have.
JavaScript is not enabled.Need help enabling JavaScript?
You're using Chrome, so you probably want to go straight to the Chrome guide.
This page tells you if Java is installed and enabled in your current web browser and what version you are running.
Java detection relies on JavaScript being enabled. So if you don't have JavaScript enabled then it's not possible to detect if Java is installed and enabled.
If you don't have JavaScript enabled, this site has a growing list of guides to show you how to enable JavaScript for your browser.
Once you've checked out your Java status, visit the Homepage to make sure your browser is up to date and to get a full read-out of your web browser's capabilities.
You should also return to the homepage to check if Java is up to date.
What is Java?
Java is a programming language and framework developed by Oracle Corporation.
Java is a broad name that can refer to several different things. For simplicities sake, what this site is concerned with is the Java plugin that can run in a web browser and be shown on websites.
Java and JavaScript are different things
Please note that Java is different to JavaScript. JavaScript has been a part of web browsers for over 15 years and is 'built in' to web browsers (it can be disabled but not actually removed). Learn more about JavaScript. Java however, is a plugin for web browsers. That means it is an extra bit of software that can be optionally loaded into a web browser to give it new features or functionality. That is what this page is about.
Do I need Java installed?
Years ago, Java was the first and very popular way of adding complex interactivity to websites. But like most things, trends change and new technologies come along to replace old ones. These days fewer and fewer websites rely on the Java plugin to provide content to their users.
Java still has its use in other things unrelated to websites, but Java for web browsers and websites is becoming less and less important to have installed.
Some older websites still rely on Java, and so if you want to use those websites you will need to have Java installed.
There have been a few serious security problems discovered with Java recently (in 2012 & 2013), and so there are a lot of people suggesting that Java no longer be used on websites or installed on computers.
Are there security concerns with Java?
The short answer to this is 'yes'. There have been a number of serious security holes discovered in Java during 2012 and 2013 and this is leading to a lot of people, companies, organisations (including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) calling for Java to be disabled in web browsers, if not completely uninstalled.
Some news articles which cover this issue:
Oracle keeps releasing security patches for Java as new problems are found.
How do I install or update Java?
Java Installation Ubuntu
There have been attempts to trick people into using compromised & insecure versions of Java. It's very important to only download Java from Oracle. You can get it from this link:
How do I uninstall Java?
We have a series of guides to help you uninstall Java from your web browser.
More questions?
Java Installation On Windows
If you have any more questions, use the contact form and we'll answer it and add your question here.