Java virtual machine

<p>A Java virtual machine (JVM) is a <a href="/facts/Virtual_machine/BLevU3sx">virtual machine</a> that enables a computer to run <a href="/facts/Java_(software_platform)/fpn6x8WL">Java</a> programs as well as programs written in <a href="/facts/List_of_JVM_languages/IJ3vI5eN">other languages</a> that are also compiled to <a href="/facts/Java_bytecode/Nh1qKH4y">Java bytecode</a>. The JVM is detailed by a <a href="/facts/Specification_(technical_standard)/xEMUsktp">specification</a> that formally describes what is required in a JVM implementation. Having a specification ensures interoperability of Java programs across different implementations so that program authors using the <a href="/facts/Java_Development_Kit/qL5cDos6">Java Development Kit</a> (JDK) need not worry about idiosyncrasies of the underlying hardware platform.
</p><p>The JVM <a href="/facts/Reference_implementation/k9B97xel">reference implementation</a> is developed by the <a href="/facts/OpenJDK/KDzob3aF">OpenJDK</a> project as <a href="/facts/Open-source_software/HzTaB8E9">open source</a> code and includes a <a href="/facts/JIT_compiler/rEYDsd8l">JIT compiler</a> called <a href="/facts/HotSpot_(virtual_machine)/m6vjRXvm">HotSpot</a>. The commercially supported Java releases available from <a href="/facts/Oracle_Corporation/0z14FygH">Oracle</a> are based on the OpenJDK runtime. Eclipse <a href="/facts/OpenJ9/CH4YJdDt">OpenJ9</a> is another open source JVM for OpenJDK.
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Java virtual machine open-in-new

Java virtual machine