[java] What is the difference between JVM, JDK, JRE & OpenJDK?

JVM

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is the virtual machine that runs the Java bytecodes. The JVM doesn't understand Java source code; that's why you need compile your *.java files to obtain *.class files that contain the bytecodes understood by the JVM. It's also the entity that allows Java to be a "portable language" (write once, run anywhere). Indeed, there are specific implementations of the JVM for different systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, see the Wikipedia list), the aim is that with the same bytecodes they all give the same results.

JDK and JRE

To explain the difference between JDK and JRE, the best is to read the Oracle documentation and consult the diagram:

Java Runtime Environment (JRE)

The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) provides the libraries, the Java Virtual Machine, and other components to run applets and applications written in the Java programming language. In addition, two key deployment technologies are part of the JRE: Java Plug-in, which enables applets to run in popular browsers; and Java Web Start, which deploys standalone applications over a network. It is also the foundation for the technologies in the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) for enterprise software development and deployment. The JRE does not contain tools and utilities such as compilers or debuggers for developing applets and applications.

Java Development Kit (JDK)

The JDK is a superset of the JRE, and contains everything that is in the JRE, plus tools such as the compilers and debuggers necessary for developing applets and applications.

Note that Oracle is not the only one to provide JDKs.

OpenJDK

OpenJDK is an open-source implementation of the JDK and the base for the Oracle JDK. There is almost no difference between the Oracle JDK and the OpenJDK.

The differences are stated in this blog:

Q: What is the difference between the source code found in the OpenJDK repository, and the code you use to build the Oracle JDK?

A: It is very close - our build process for Oracle JDK releases builds on OpenJDK 7 by adding just a couple of pieces, like the deployment code, which includes Oracle's implementation of the Java Plugin and Java WebStart, as well as some closed source third party components like a graphics rasterizer, some open source third party components, like Rhino, and a few bits and pieces here and there, like additional documentation or third party fonts. Moving forward, our intent is to open source all pieces of the Oracle JDK except those that we consider commercial features such as JRockit Mission Control (not yet available in Oracle JDK), and replace encumbered third party components with open source alternatives to achieve closer parity between the code bases.

Update for JDK 11 - An article from Donald Smith try to disambiguate the difference between Oracle JDK and Oracle's OpenJDK : https://blogs.oracle.com/java-platform-group/oracle-jdk-releases-for-java-11-and-later

Examples related to java

Under what circumstances can I call findViewById with an Options Menu / Action Bar item? How much should a function trust another function How to implement a simple scenario the OO way Two constructors How do I get some variable from another class in Java? this in equals method How to split a string in two and store it in a field How to do perspective fixing? String index out of range: 4 My eclipse won't open, i download the bundle pack it keeps saying error log

Examples related to jvm

Cannot inline bytecode built with JVM target 1.8 into bytecode that is being built with JVM target 1.6 How can I get a random number in Kotlin? Kotlin unresolved reference in IntelliJ Is JVM ARGS '-Xms1024m -Xmx2048m' still useful in Java 8? Android Gradle Could not reserve enough space for object heap Android java.exe finished with non-zero exit value 1 Android Studio Gradle project "Unable to start the daemon process /initialization of VM" Android Studio - No JVM Installation found Android Studio error: "Environment variable does not point to a valid JVM installation" Installing Android Studio, does not point to a valid JVM installation error

Examples related to difference

Calculate time difference in minutes in SQL Server Java 8: Difference between two LocalDateTime in multiple units Differences between Oracle JDK and OpenJDK Android difference between Two Dates Difference between IsNullOrEmpty and IsNullOrWhiteSpace in C# Get the time difference between two datetimes What is the difference between JVM, JDK, JRE & OpenJDK? What is the difference between bottom-up and top-down? What's the difference between ViewData and ViewBag?