Which company created the Java programming language, first released publicly in 1995?

Sun Microsystems created the Java programming language, which was first released publicly in 1995.

Java was developed at Sun Microsystems by a team led by James Gosling. The project began in 1991 under the name Oak and was later renamed Java. Sun publicly released Java in 1995, promoting its ability to run compiled programs on different systems through the Java Virtual Machine.

The language became widely used for enterprise software, web applications, Android development, and other systems. Its famous “write once, run anywhere” goal depended on compatible virtual machines, although real-world portability could still require testing and adaptation.

Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010 and became the steward of Java's commercial development. That acquisition can cause confusion about the answer: Oracle owns and develops Java today, but Sun Microsystems created the language. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982 and was also an important workstation, server, and networking company.