What are InputStream and OutputStream and for what purposes and situations are they employed?

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InputStream and OutputStream are two abstract classes that form the basic building blocks for input and output operations in Java. They are used for reading or writing data from or to a variety of sources, including files, network sockets, and system resources.

InputStream is an abstract class that represents a stream of bytes that can be read. It is used to read data from different sources, including files, network sockets, and byte arrays. InputStream is commonly used when you need to read input data, such as reading user input from the console, loading data from a file, or reading data from a network socket.

OutputStream is an abstract class that represents a stream of bytes that can be written. It is used to write data to different destinations, including files, network sockets, and byte arrays. OutputStream is commonly used when you need to write output data, such as writing data to a file, sending data over a network, or printing data to the console.

In summary, InputStream and OutputStream are employed whenever input or output of data are required in Java. Their usage is ubiquitous in almost all Java applications that involve reading or writing data from or to various sources.