JDK, JRE, and JVM: Understanding the Java Platform Components and How They Work Together

Photo by Nicolas Arnold on Unsplash

If you’re a Java developer, you’ve likely encountered the trio of “J”s — JVM, JRE, and JDK. While it’s tempting to gloss over these terms and focus on coding, having a grasp of these fundamentals can save you from potential pitfalls and embarrassment when working with the language.

In this article, we’ll explore the significance of these “J”s and unravel their meanings. But first, let’s start by decoding their full forms:

• JVM: Java Virtual Machine
• JRE: Java Runtime Environment
• JDK: Java Development Kit

JVM: Java Virtual Machine

The JVM stands as the cornerstone of the Java language. It’s the place where your Java programs come to life. To illustrate its role, let’s craft a straightforward Java program and delve into how these components interconnect.

Open your text editor and enter the following simple “Hello World” message, then save it as HelloWorld.java:

public class HelloWorld{
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello World!");
    }
}

As you may know, our computers don’t comprehend English or any human language for that matter; they…