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.

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.

For more information about , visit the website at http://db.apache.org/derby. The website provides pointers to the Wiki and other resources, such as the derby-users mailing list, where you can ask questions about issues not covered in the documentation.

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