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JDK, JRE and JVM

Last updated: 28 Sep 2026

  • JVM (Java Virtual Machine): runs compiled bytecode and manages memory.
  • JRE (Java Runtime Environment): the JVM plus the standard libraries needed to run Java programs.
  • JDK (Java Development Kit): the JRE plus developer tools such as the compiler javac.

To write programs you install the JDK. To only run them, the JRE is enough.

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