In prior Java 101 articles, I referred to the concepts of redirection, standard input device, and standard output device. To demonstrate inputting data, several examples called System.in.read().

Java's I/O streams provide standardized ways to read and write data. Any object representing a mutable data source in Java exposes methods for reading and writing its data as a stream.

Get inside the Java shell, with this hands-on demonstration of building advanced UI consoles and REPLs in Java.

It was never the sexiest language, but for decades Java has been a mainstay of modern technology, and it's going to be with us for years to come.