JavaFX was originally developed by Sun Microsystems as a replacement for Java's original AWT and Swing GUI toolkits. It was later acquired by Oracle who made JavaFX a central part of the Java platform. JavaFX applications can be built using FXML markup and CSS styling and include features like a WebView component, multi-touch support, and integration with the Java SE platform, allowing applications to run cross-platform on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Key JavaFX APIs and functionality include controls, media playback, and the ability to embed web content within applications.