Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) is a platform designed for building large-scale, multi-tiered, and distributed applications in the Java programming language. It provides a set of specifications and APIs that simplify the development of enterprise-level applications, including web services, messaging, and database connectivity. J2EE includes various components such as Servlets, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB). These components work together to create robust applications that can handle high traffic and complex business logic, making it a popular choice for businesses looking to develop scalable and maintainable software solutions.