A native method is a method that is implemented in a language other than Java.

In the context of Core Java, a native method refers to a method whose implementation is written in a language other than Java. This allows Java applications to call functions that are written in languages like C or C++. Native methods are typically used when performance is crucial or when interfacing with platform-specific functionalities that are not directly accessible through Java.

To declare a native method in Java, you use the native keyword in the method declaration and provide its implementation in a different language. For example:

java

public class Example {

    // Declaration of a native method

    public native void nativeMethod();
    // Static block to load the native library

    static {

        System.loadLibrary("ExampleLibrary");

    }

// Rest of the Java class implementation // ... }

In the above example, nativeMethod is declared as a native method, and the static block loads a native library named “ExampleLibrary,” which contains the implementation for the native method.

To use native methods, you need to use the Java Native Interface (JNI), which provides a framework for interfacing Java code with applications and libraries written in other languages.