| # User Interface APIs | Documentation Contents

## AWT and Swing

The JavaTM platform's Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) provides APIs for constructing user interface components such as menus, buttons, text fields, dialog boxes, checkboxes, and for handling user input through those components. In addition, AWT allows for rendering of simple shapes such as ovals and polygons and enables developers to control the user-interface layout and fonts used by their applications.

The Swing APIs also provide graphical component (GUI) for use in user interfaces. The Swing APIs are written in the Java programming language without any reliance on code that is specific to the GUI facilities provided by underlying operating system. This allows the Swing GUI components to have a "pluggable" look-and-feel that can be switched while an application is running.

For more information, see the J2SE Swing documentation and AWT documentation.

## Java 2DTM Technology

The Java 2DTM API is a set of classes for advanced 2D graphics and imaging. It encompasses line art, text, and images in a single comprehensive model. The API provides extensive support for image compositing and alpha channel images, a set of classes to provide accurate color space definition and conversion, and a rich set of display-oriented imaging operators.

For more information, see the Java 2D documentation.

## Java Sound

The Java platform includes a powerful API for capturing, processing, and playing back audio and MIDI (Musical Intstrument Digital Interface) data. This API is supported by an efficient sound engine which guarantees high-quality audio mixing and MIDI synthesis capabilities for the platform.

For more information, see Java Sound documentation.

## Input Method Framework

The input method framework enables the collaboration between text editing components and input methods in entering text. Input methods are software components that let the user enter text in ways other than simple typing on a keyboard. They are commonly used to enter Japanese, Chinese, or Korean -- languages using thousands of different characters - on keyboards with far fewer keys. However, the framework also supports input methods for other languages and the use of entirely different input mechanisms, such as handwriting or speech recognition.

For more information, see the Input Method Framework documentation.

## Accessibility

With the Java Accessibility API, developers can easily create Java applications that are accessible to disabled persons. Accessible Java applications are compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, speech recognition systems, and refreshable braille displays.

For more information, see the Accessibility documentation.

## For More Information

See the following sections of the J2SE Platform documentation.

- Swing Documentation
- AWT Documentation
- Java 2D Documentation
- Java Sound Documentation
- Input Method Framework
- Accessibility Documentation

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