Java Native Interface (JNI) is a standard programming interface for writing Java native methods and embedding the Java virtual machine into native applications. The primary goal is binary compatibility of native method libraries across all Java virtual machine implementations on a given platform.
The Java Native Interface 6.0 Specification describes how the AWT package is designed to use JNI mechanisms to display objects on Solaris, Linux and Windows platforms.
JNI Enhancements will report further enhancements to this technology as they are added.
See JNI FAQ.