Difference Between JVM, JRE and JDK

In this tutorial you will learn the difference between JVM, JRE and JDK. Before moving on to Java or studying Java, you must understand the differences between JDK, JRE and JVM. You will get to read about all these in this tutorial.

JVM (Java Virtual Machine)

JVM is an abstract machine. It is called a virtual machine because it doesn’t physically exist. It is a specification that provides a runtime environment in which Java bytecode can be executed. It can also run those programs which are written in other languages and compiled to Java bytecode.

It is a virtual machine that enables a computer to run Java programs as well as program written in other languages that are also compiled to Java bytecode. The JVM is detailed by specification that formally describe what is required in a JVM implementation. Having a specification ensures interoperability of Java programs across different implementation so that programs authors using the (JDK)

JVM are available for many hardware and software platforms. JVM, JRE, and JDK are platform dependent because the configuration of each OS is different from each other. However, Java is platform independent. There are three notions of the JVM; specification, implementation, and instance.

The JVM performs the following main tasks;

• Loads code
  
• Verifies code
  
• Executes code
  
• Provides runtime environment
  

 

JRE (Java Runtime Environment)

JRE is an acronym for Java Runtime Environment. It is also written as Java RTE. The Java Runtime Environment is a set of software tools which are used for developing Java applications. It is used to provide the runtime environment. It is the implementation of JVM. It physically exists. It contains a set of libraries + other files that JVM uses at runtime.

The implementation of JVM is also actively released by other companies besides Sun Micro Systems.

JDK (Java Development Kit)

JDK is an acronym for Java Development Kit. The Java Development Kit (JDK) is a software development environment which is used to develop Java applications and applets. It physically exists. It contains JRE + development tools.

JDK is distribution of Java technology by Oracle Corporation. If implements the Java Language Specification (JLS) and the Java Virtual Machine Specification (JVMS) and provides the Standard Edition (SE) of Java Application Programming Interface. It provides software for working with Java Application.

JDK is an implementation of any one of the given below Java Platforms released by Oracle Corporation;

• Standard Edition Java Platform
  
• Enterprise Edition Java Platform
  
• Micro Edition Java Platform
  

The JDK contains a private Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and a few other resources such as an interpreter/loader
(java), a compiler (Javac), an archiver (jar), a documentation generator (Javadoc), etc. to complete the development of a Java Application.

So, in this tutorial you learned the difference between JVM, JRE and JDK, I hope you all learned this tutorial well learn something new, If you have any doubt from this tutorial, you can ask in the comment section.

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