is written and implemented completely in the Java programming language. provides users with a small-footprint standards-based database engine that can be tightly embedded into any Java based solution. ensures data integrity and provides sophisticated transaction support. In the default configuration there is no separate database server to be installed or maintained by the end user. For more information on , visit the Web site at http://db.apache.org/derby.

The on-disk database format used by is portable and platform-independent. You can move databases from machine to machine without needing to modify the data. A application can include a pre-built, populated database if it needs to, and that database will work in any configuration.

Before you install , you should understand the deployment options and system requirements.