JavaBeans

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
JavaBeans
bean

   <programming> A {component architecture} for the {Java}
   programming language, developed initially by {Sun}, but now
   available from several other vendors.  JavaBeans components
   are called "{beans}".

   JavaBeans allows developers to create reusable software
   components that can then be assembled together using visual
   application builder tools including {Sybase}'s {PowerJ},
   {Borland}'s {JBuilder}, {IBM}'s {Visual Age for Java},
   {SunSoft}'s {Java Workshop} and {Symantec}'s {Visual Cafe}.

   JavaBeans support Introspection (a builder tool can analyze
   how a Bean works), Customisation (developers can customise the
   appearance and behaviour of a Bean), Events (Beans can
   communicate), Properties (developers can customise and program
   with Beans(?)) and Persistence (customised Beans can be stored
   and reused).

   (http://javasoft.com/beans/).

   (1997-11-20)