The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

JavaBeans
bean

    A component architecture for the Java
   programming language, developed initially by Sun, but now
   available from several other vendors.  JavaBeans components
   are called "beans".

   JavaBeans allows developers to create reusable software
   components that can then be assembled together using visual
   application builder tools including Sybase's PowerJ,
   Borland's JBuilder, IBM's Visual Age for Java,
   SunSoft's Java Workshop and Symantec's Visual Cafe.

   JavaBeans support Introspection (a builder tool can analyze
   how a Bean works), Customisation (developers can customise the
   appearance and behaviour of a Bean), Events (Beans can
   communicate), Properties (developers can customise and program
   with Beans(?)) and Persistence (customised Beans can be stored
   and reused).

   (http://javasoft.com/beans/).

   (1997-11-20)