The limitations of resource-constrained hardware prevent Java Card virtual machines from supporting the full range of functionality of certain Java platform features. The features in question are supported, but a particular virtual machine may limit the range of operation to less than that of the Java platform.

To ensure a level of portability for application code, this section establishes a minimum required level for partial support of these language features.

The limitations here are listed as maximums from the application programmer's perspective. Java packages that do not violate these maximum values can be converted into Java Card technology-based CAP files (“Java Card CAP files”), and will be portable across all Java Card implementations. From the Java Card virtual machine implementer's perspective, each maximum listed indicates a minimum level of support that will allow portability of applets.