Explain the features of JavaFX

Following are some of the important features of JavaFX −

• Written in Java − The JavaFX library is written in Java and is available for the languages that can be executed on a JVM, which include − Java, Groovy and JRuby. These JavaFX applications are also platform-independent.

• FXML − JavaFX features a language known as FXML, which is an HTML like declarative markup language. The sole purpose of this language is to define a user interface.

• Scene Builder − JavaFX provides an application named Scene Builder. On integrating this application in IDE’s such as Eclipse and NetBeans, the users can access the drag and drop design interface, which is used to develop FXML applications (just like Swing Drag & Drop and Dreamweaver Applications).

• Swing Interoperability − In a JavaFX application, you can embed Swing content using the Swing Node class. Similarly, you can update the existing Swing applications with JavaFX features like embedded web content and rich graphics media.

• Built-in UI controls − JavaFX library caters UI controls using which we can develop a full-featured application.

• CSS like Styling − JavaFX provides a CSS like styling. By using this, you can improve the design of your application with a simple knowledge of CSS.

• Canvas and Printing API − JavaFX provides Canvas, an immediate mode style of rendering API. Within the package javafx.scene.canvas it holds a set of classes for canvas, using which we can draw directly within an area of the JavaFX scene. JavaFX also provides classes for Printing purposes in the package javafx.print.

• Rich set of API’s − JavaFX library provides a rich set of API’s to develop GUI applications, 2D and 3D graphics, etc. This set of API’s also includes the capabilities of the Java platform. Therefore, using this API, you can access the features of Java languages such as Generics, Annotations, Multithreading, and Lambda Expressions. The traditional Java Collections library was enhanced and concepts like observable lists and maps were included in it. Using these, users can observe the changes in the data models.

• Integrated Graphics library − JavaFX provides classes for 2d and 3d graphics.

• Graphics pipeline − JavaFX supports graphics based on the Hardware-accelerated graphics pipeline known as Prism. When used with a supported Graphic Card or GPU it offers smooth graphics. In case the system does not support a graphic card then prism defaults to the software rendering stack.