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Java - JDK vs JRE vs JVM

All three JDK, JRE and JVM are interdependent. JDK is Java Development Kit primarily meant for Developers to develop Java based applications. JRE is Java Runtime Environment where Java program runs. JDK carries JRE as an integral part of it. JRE can be installed seperately as well on systems where no developement is to be done and we only need to run the Java based application or a java program is to be executed. The JVM is a specification, and can have different implementations, as long as they adhere to the specs. The specs can be found in the below link − https://docs.oracle.com. JRE is an implementation of the JVM.

JDK

JDK is an abbreviation for Java Development Kit which includes all the tools, executables, and binaries required to compile, debug, and execute a Java Program.JDK is platform dependent i.e. there are separate installers for Windows, Mac, and Unix systems. JDK includes both JVM and JRE and is entirely responsible for code execution. It is the version of JDK that represents a version of Java.

JRE

JRE is a Java Runtime Environment which is the implementation of JVM i.e. the specifications that are defined in JVM are implemented and create a corresponding environment for the execution of code. JRE comprises mainly Java binaries and other classes to execute the program like JVM which physically exists. Along with Java binaries JRE also consists of various technologies of deployment, user interfaces to interact with code executed, some base libraries for different functionalities, and language and util-based libraries.

JVM

JVM is the abbreviation for Java Virtual Machine which is a specification that provides a runtime environment in which Java byte code can be executed i.e. it is something that is abstract and its implementation is independent of choosing the algorithm and has been provided by Sun and other companies. It is JVM which is responsible for converting Byte code to machine-specific code. It can also run those programs which are written in other languages and compiled to Java bytecode. The JVM performs the mentioned tasks: Loads code, Verifies code, Executes code, and Provides runtime environment.

Difference between JDK, JRE, and JVM

Following are the important differences between JDK, JRE, and JVM −

Sr. No.	Key	JDK	JRE	JVM
1	Definition	JDK (Java Development Kit) is a software development kit to develop applications in Java. In addition to JRE, JDK also contains number of development tools (compilers, JavaDoc, Java Debugger etc.).	JRE (Java Runtime Environment) is the implementation of JVM and is defined as a software package that provides Java class libraries, along with Java Virtual Machine (JVM), and other components to run applications written in Java programming.	JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is an abstract machine that is platform-dependent and has three notions as a specification, a document that describes requirement of JVM implementation, implementation, a computer program that meets JVM requirements, and instance, an implementation that executes Java byte code provides a runtime environment for executing Java byte code.
2	Prime functionality	JDK is primarily used for code execution and has prime functionality of development.	On other hand JRE is majorly responsible for creating environment for code execution.	JVM on other hand specifies all the implementations and responsible to provide these implementations to JRE.
3	Platform Independence	JDK is platform dependent i.e for different platforms different JDK required.	Like of JDK JRE is also platform dependent.	JVM is platform independent.
4	Tools	As JDK is responsible for prime development so it contains tools for developing, debugging and monitoring java application.	On other hand JRE does not contain tools such as compiler or debugger etc. Rather it contains class libraries and other supporting files that JVM requires to run the program.	JVM does not include software development tools.
5	Implementation	JDK = Java Runtime Environment (JRE) + Development tools	JRE = Java Virtual Machine (JVM) + Libraries to run the application	JVM = Only Runtime environment for executing the Java byte code.