What is "jpa"

Java Persistence API (or simply JPA) is a standard Java language API for data persistence that must be implemented by frameworks that wish to follow such a standard. JPA defines an object-relational mapping medium for simple and common Java objects (Pojos), called entity Beans. Several object/relational mapping frameworks such as Hibernate implement JPA. Also manages Relational Model entity development using the native Java SE and Java EE platform.

It originated in a common project among developers to create the pattern. Strongly based on the ideas brought by Hibernate, so much so that the leader of the first version of this specification is the creator of the framework.

Source of the fragment: Introduction to Java Persistence API - JPA
Wiki source: Java Persistence API - Wikipedia