What is the Difference Between J2SE and J2EE?

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The main difference between J2SE and J2EE lies in the type of applications they are used for and the additional features J2EE provides.

J2SE (Java Standard Edition), now known as Java SE, is the foundation edition of the Java platform and is used for building standalone applications like Swing, applets, and other desktop applications. It consists of the basic classes and APIs that provide the core functionality of the Java language, virtual machine, and base libraries.

On the other hand, J2EE (Java Enterprise Edition), now known as Java EE, is targeted at developing multi-tier enterprise applications that run on servers, such as web applications. It includes all the features of Java SE, with additional functionality such as Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), Java Servlets, Java Message Service (JMS), and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC). Java EE is designed to handle many of the details of enterprise application development, allowing developers to focus on business logic rather than infrastructure and integration.

In summary, J2SE is used for developing standalone desktop applications, while J2EE is used for developing multi-tier enterprise applications that execute inside a J2EE container.

Comparative Table: J2SE vs J2EE

The main difference between J2SE and J2EE lies in their usage and functionality. J2SE (Java 2 Platform Standard Edition) provides the basic classes and APIs for developing standard Java applications, while J2EE (Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition) offers a collection of technologies and APIs for developing multi-tier enterprise applications. Here is a table highlighting the differences between J2SE and J2EE:

Feature J2SE J2EE
Purpose Developing standard Java applications, such as desktop applications and applets Developing multi-tier enterprise applications, including web services, networking, and server-side scripting
Functionality Basic classes and APIs (java.lang, java.util) Additional features like EJB, JSP, Servlets, and XML technology
Usage Executes as standalone desktop programs or applets Executes inside a J2EE container
Components J2SE is the foundation for all other Java editions J2EE uses many components of J2SE and adds new features like Servlets, JavaBeans, Java Message Services, and more

J2EE is built on top of J2SE, so it includes all the functionality of J2SE and adds additional features to support enterprise-level application development.