The Java InputStream class is the superclass of all input streams. The input stream is used to read data from numerous input devices like the keyboard, network, etc. InputStream is an abstract class, and because of this, it is not useful by itself. However, its subclasses are used to read data.

* This abstract class is the superclass of all classes representing * an input stream of bytes. * * <p> Applications that need to define a subclass of <code>InputStream</code> * must always provide a method that returns the next byte of input. * * @author Arthur van Hoff * @see java.io.BufferedInputStream * @see java.io.ByteArrayInputStream