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Java Virtual Machine (JVM)

Definition

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a virtual machine that executes Java bytecode. It provides the runtime environment for running Java applications and translates bytecode into machine code that can be executed by the computer's operating system.

Analogy

Think of the JVM as a translator between humans and aliens. Humans speak in their native language (Java bytecode), but aliens only understand their own language (machine code). The JVM acts as the translator, converting human language into alien language so that the aliens can understand and execute it.

Related terms

Bytecode: Bytecode is a low-level representation of Java source code that is platform-independent. It is generated by the Java compiler and can be executed by the JVM.

Object-oriented programming: Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that organizes data and behavior into reusable objects. Java, which runs on the JVM, is an object-oriented programming language.

Garbage collection: Garbage collection is an automatic memory management process in which the JVM identifies and frees up memory occupied by objects that are no longer needed in order to prevent memory leaks.