Java Image I/O

The Java Image I/O API, developed through JSR-015, 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 current APIs for loading and saving images.

The API provides provides a framework for the addition of format-specific plugins. Plug-ins for several common formats are included with Java Image I/O, but third parties can use this API to create their own plugins to handle special formats.

Java Image I/O API Guide

The Java Image I/O API Guide (HTML | PDF | PS) describes the Java Image I/O API in more detail and demonstrates how to use Java Image I/O to read and write images and write custom plug-ins.

Java Image I/O API Specification

The Java Image I/O API Specification consists of these six packages:


Contains the basic classes and interfaces for describing the contents of image files, including metadata and thumbnails; controlling the image reading and writing process; performing transcoding between formats; and reporting errors.

javax.imageio.event
Contains interfaces for dealing with synchronous notification of events during the reading and writing of images.

javax.imageio.metadata
Contains classes and interfaces for reading and writing image metadata.

javax.imageio.plugins.jpeg
Contains some support classes for the built-in JPEG reader and writer plug-ins.

javax.imageio.spi
Contains service-provider interfaces for: readers, writers, transcoders; and includes a runtime registry.

javax.imageio.stream
Contains classes and interfaces for low-level I/O from files and streams.

For More Information

See the Java Software websites:

  • JSR-015 Image I/O Framework Specification
  • The Java 2D Home Page
  • Java Advanced Imaging
  • The JFC Home Page