Java Native Interface

Documentation Contents

Java^TM Native Interface (JNI) is a standard programming interface for writing Java native methods and embedding the Java^TM virtual machine* into native applications. The primary goal is binary compatibility of native method libraries across all Java virtual machine implementations on a given platform.
The Java 2 SDK supports the old native method interface (NMI) only when using the classic virtual machine. NMI was originally implemented in Java Development Kit (JDK^TM) 1.0. The old NMI is not part of the Java platform standard, and programmers are strongly encouraged to migrate their existing NMI code to the JNI.

JNI Enhancements

JNI 1.1 Specification

JNI 1.1 Specification

Other Information

The Java Tutorial has a trail on the Java Native Interface:
Java Native Interface Tutorial
For JNI FAQs and information about the book The Java Native Interface: Programmer's Guide and Specification, see this document on the Java Software website:
Java Native Interface Tips

*As used on this web site, the terms "Java Virtual Machine" or "JVM" mean a virtual machine for the Java platform.