University of Central Florida (UCF) COP3330 Object Oriented Programming Final Practice Exam

Java is considered platform-independent primarily because it compiles code into an intermediate representation known as bytecode, which is executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This means that Java programs can be written once and run anywhere that a JVM is available, regardless of the underlying operating system or hardware.

This principle, often summarized as "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA), highlights that the bytecode is not tied to a specific architecture. Instead, it can be interpreted or compiled just-in-time (JIT) by the JVM on any device, ensuring consistent execution of the program across different environments.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of Java's platform independence. For instance, suggesting that Java can only run on Windows contradicts its core philosophy, as it operates on numerous platforms including Linux and macOS. The notion that it does not require installation is misleading; the JVM must be installed to run Java applications. Lastly, while Java being an interpreted language does play a role in its execution, the key factor for platform independence lies in the bytecode and the JVM, not merely the interpretation process.