To be clear, the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition are not being merged into one game. Java, the one on PC that gets Snapshots for players to test out ahead of real updates, is different from Bedrock, ...

Java multiplayer upgrade: Snapshot 7 introduces a Friends List and peer-to-peer world joining to Minecraft: Java Edition, features long available in Bedrock. Server-free play: Players can now invite ...

It's not an option I would recommend too much in the long run, because to play, that person will have to be connected and with the server running at all times. In other words, every time you want to ...

Minecraft: Java Edition is the original version of the game for computers, while Bedrock is a newer version available on nearly every device.