The Java Message Service is a Java API that allows applications to create, send, receive, and read messages. Designed by Sun and several partner companies, the JMS API defines a common set of interfaces and associated semantics that allow programs written in the Java programming language to communicate with other messaging implementations.

The JMS API minimizes the set of concepts a programmer must learn to use messaging products but provides enough features to support sophisticated messaging applications. It also strives to maximize the portability of JMS applications across JMS providers in the same messaging domain.

The JMS API enables communication that is not only loosely coupled but also

► Asynchronous. A JMS provider can deliver messages to a client as they arrive; a client does not have to request messages in order to receive them.

► Reliable. The JMS API can ensure that a message is delivered once and only once. Lower levels of reliability are available for applications that can afford to miss messages or to receive duplicate messages.

The JMS Specification was first published in August 1998. The latest version of the JMS Specification is Version 1.1, which was released in April 2002. You can download a copy of the Specification from the JMS Web site, http://java.sun.com/products/jms/.