What does Java do and is it necessary?

I'm looking for a little education here.  A How To article on disabling Java in the recent Mac Life indicates Java can be an malware vector to OS X.  I am looking for a brief understanding of what Java is and what it does, and more importantly is it really necessary to be enabled?  I understand it is an interpretive programming language that runs graphics on websites.  Is that all it is/does?  Where does java Script fit in?  Lastly, by disabling it on my Mac and in my browsers, will websites just not work?
BTW, I use Intego's anti-malware suite. 
Thank you

I'm looking for a little education here.  A How To article on disabling Java in the recent Mac Life indicates Java can be an malware vector to OS X.  I am looking for a brief understanding of what Java is and what it does, and more importantly is it really necessary to be enabled?
1st, if you have installed all the latest Mac OS X Lion (or Snow Leopard, or Leopard) updates, the known Java flaw has been fixed.  If you have not applied all the updates, you should do it as soon as possible.
You can disable it, either just in your browser or entirelly if you like.  If something doesn't run, it will ask for Java to be installed and you will know that you might need it for that 3rd party application.
The Flashback malware gained access via the web browser Java plug-in, so just disabling that is also good enough, but also redundent if you have applied all the latest Mac OS X updates.
I understand it is an interpretive programming language that runs graphics on websites. Is that all it is/does?
Java is a complete programming environment developed by Sun Microsystems (Sun is now owned by Oracle).
It is commonly used to write applications that run on multiple platforms with little or no changes.  This is why it is popular as most Java developers do not need to worry if the system is Mac, Windows, Unix, etc...  It is also used in some Smart Phones, Set Top TV boxes, dedicated black box electronics, etc...
On the Mac some (but not very many) web sites use Java for complex web site interactions, such as a game you run from a web site.  However, this is very rare and you are unlikely to run into one of these web sites, so disabling your browser's Java plug-in is generally not a problem.
Where does java Script fit in?
JavaScript is a totally different language and programming environment that was created about the time Java was the "Cool Kid" in town, so the JavaScript developers stole the name.  They are not really related.
One of the reasons very few web sites depend on Java is because they can do most of what they need via straight HTML or HTML and JavaScript.
So you DO WANT JavaScript enabled, or that will impact your web browsing experience.
Lastly, by disabling it on my Mac and in my browsers, will websites just not work?
Again, few web sites use Java, so disabling the Java plug-in within your browser's preferences is generally an OK thing to do.
However, you may have some applications written in Java that you use on yoru Mac where disabling Java via the Applications -> Utilities -> Java Preferences may (or may not) affect running some apps on your Mac.  For example, if you use CrashPlan (backup utility) it is written in Java.
But so far, Java based applications have not been a malware problem.  Only the Java browser plug-in.

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