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# JavaTM Image I/O Technology

> The JavaTM Image I/O API, developed through JSR-015, provides a pluggable architecture for working with images stored in files and accessed across the network. It offers substantially more flexibility and power than the previous APIs for loading and saving images.

> The API provides a framework for the addition of format-specific plugins. Plug-ins for several common formats are included with Java Image I/O, but third parties can use this API to create their own plugins to handle special formats.

API Specification

> The Java Image I/O API Specification consists of the following packages:
> - javax.imageio - the basic classes and interfaces for describing the contents of image files, including metadata and thumbnails; controlling the image reading and writing process; performing transcoding between formats; and reporting errors.
> - javax.imageio.event - interfaces for dealing with synchronous notification of events during the reading and writing of images.
> - javax.imageio.metadata - classes and interfaces for reading and writing image metadata.
> - javax.imageio.plugins.bmp - a support class for the built-in BMP reader and writer plug-ins.
> - javax.imageio.plugins.jpeg - some support classes for the built-in JPEG reader and writer plug-ins.
> - javax.imageio.spi - service-provider interfaces for: readers, writers, transcoders; and includes a runtime registry.
> - javax.imageio.stream - classes and interfaces for low-level I/O from files and streams.

Tutorials and Programmer's Guides

> - The Java Image I/O API Guide describes the API in more detail and demonstrates how to use Java Image I/O to read and write images and write custom plug-ins.

API Enhancements

> - Java Image I/O Enhancements in Java™ SE 6.0
> - Java Image I/O Enhancements in Java SE 5.0

More Information

> See the Java Software websites:
> - The Java 2D Home Page
> - Java Advanced Imaging
> - The JFC Home Page

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