Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a crucial component of the Java platform. It is responsible for executing compiled Java byte code, allowing programs to run on any device or operating system that has a JVM implementation.
Related terms
Byte Code: A low-level representation of Java source code that can be interpreted by the JVM.
Just-In-Time (JIT) Compiler: An optimization technique used by the JVM to dynamically compile certain parts of byte code into native machine instructions for improved performance.
Garbage Collection: A memory management process in which the JVM automatically deallocates memory occupied by objects that are no longer needed by a program.