Provides the API to attach to a Java^TM virtual machine. A tool, written in the Java Language, uses this API to attach to a target virtual machine (VM) and load its tool agent into the target VM. For example, a management console might have a management agent which it uses to obtain management information from instrumented objects in a Java virtual machine. If the management console is required to manage an application that is running in a virtual machine that does not include the management agent, then this API can be used to attach to the target VM and load the agent. @since 1.6