IBM MQ Java language interfaces

IBM MQ provides two alternative application programming interfaces (APIs) for use in Java™ applications: IBM MQ classes for Java Message Service and IBM MQ classes for Java.

IBM supports, and is an active participant of, open standards and within the messaging area the API standard is the Java Message Service (JMS). From Version 8.0, IBM MQ implements the JMS 2.0 standard, which introduces a new simplified API together with features such as shared subscriptions. In addition, WebSphere Application Server Liberty has support for JMS 2.0 with both the default messaging provider and IBM MQ.

Within IBM MQ there are two alternative APIs for use in Java applications:

IBM MQ classes for JMS

IBM MQ classes for Java Message Service (JMS) is the JMS provider that is supplied with IBM MQ. The Java Platform, Enterprise Edition Connector Architecture (JCA) provides a standard way of connecting applications running in a Java EE environment to an Enterprise Information System (EIS) such as IBM MQ or Db2®.

IBM MQ classes for Java

IBM MQ classes for Java enable you to use IBM MQ in a Java environment. IBM MQ classes for Java allow a Java application to connect to IBM MQ as an IBM MQ client, or connect directly to an IBM MQ queue manager.Note: IBM MQ classes for Java are functionally stabilized at the level shipped in IBM MQ Version 8.0. for more information, see Stabilization of IBM MQ classes for Java.

From IBM MQ Version 8.0, the IBM MQ classes for Java and IBM MQ classes for JMS are built with Java 7. The Java 7 runtime environment supports running earlier class file versions.