Introduction

1.1 The Java Image I/O API

The Java Image I/O API 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 previously available APIs for loading and saving images.

The API provides a framework for the addition of format-specific plug-ins. Plug-ins for several common formats will be included with the standard Java SDK; other plug-ins will be available from Sun and from third parties. A voting process has been established where Java developers may indicate their interest in particular formats. See:

http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/bugParade/bugs/4339476.html