What is the file suffix for a Java program's source code?

The file suffix for a Java program's source code is ".java". This extension indicates that the file contains human-readable Java code, which is written in plain text and can be edited using any text editor. When a Java program is written and saved with the ".java" suffix, it signifies that it is a source file that needs to be compiled by the Java compiler.

Upon compilation, the Java source file is transformed into bytecode, which is stored in a file with the ".class" suffix. This compiled bytecode can then be executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The other suffixes mentioned, such as ".class", refer to compiled files, while ".src" and ".jcode" are not standard or recognized extensions for Java source code. Thus, using ".java" specifically denotes the source code, making it distinct and easily identifiable in the programming community.