Swing

Swing is a term used for several distinct concepts in motion, culture, and technology. Broadly, it denotes a back-and-forth or side-to-side movement around a pivot. The word also designates styles of music and dance associated with the swing era, as well as a software toolkit.

In everyday usage, a swing is a freely suspended seat or object that moves under gravity. The motion resembles a pendulum, with an arc determined by the suspension point and the length of the rope or chain. External pushes and damping govern its dynamics.

Swing music is a form of jazz that dominated Western popular music in the 1930s and early 1940s. It features a strong, upbeat rhythm with a distinct swing feel, a prominent rhythm section, and organized horn sections delivering melodic riffs and improvised solos.

Swing dancing refers to social dances performed to swing music, including styles such as the Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. It emphasizes rhythm, improvisation, and coordination with a partner, often incorporating spins, aerials, and fast footwork. The scene spread internationally after the 1930s.

Java Swing is a graphical user interface toolkit for the Java programming language, part of the Java Foundation Classes. Swing provides platform-independent, component-based UI elements such as windows, buttons, text controls, and panels, with a pluggable look and feel. It remains widely used alongside newer technologies like JavaFX.