Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE), now known as Jakarta EE, is a set of specifications and technologies designed to simplify the development of large-scale, distributed, and multi-tiered enterprise applications. Java EE builds upon the standard Java Platform, Java Standard Edition (Java SE), by adding several libraries and APIs that facilitate the development of robust, scalable applications for businesses. These APIs include Servlets, JavaServer Faces (JSF), Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), Java Persistence API (JPA), and Web Services.

Java EE focuses on providing reusable components, standardized middleware, and a scalable runtime environment that enables the creation of complex web services, data management systems, and transaction-based enterprise systems. One of its defining features is its support for dependency injection and resource management, which simplify the configuration of services like databases, messaging queues, and other critical infrastructure.

Applications built using Java EE typically run on Java application servers such as GlassFish, WildFly, and Apache Tomcat. These servers manage essential features like transaction management, security, concurrency, and session handling. Java EE also supports RESTful services and SOAP-based web services, making it ideal for developing SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) and microservices-based applications.

Java EE continues to be widely used in industries that require highly reliable, secure, and scalable backend systems, such as finance, telecommunications, and healthcare.