Java is a widely-used programming language developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995, now owned by Oracle, and is designed for building mobile, desktop, and web applications. Its key features include simplicity, platform independence, object-oriented design, security measures, and multithreading capabilities, making it a popular choice among developers. The process of programming in Java involves creating, compiling, and executing code, with the main method serving as the entry point of any Java application.