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Included as part of the JRE installation are deployment technologies like Java Web Start and Java Plugin that simplify the activation of applications and provide advanced support for future Java updates. What does JRE consist of?īesides the Java Virtual Machine, JRE is composed of a variety of other supporting software tools and features to get the most out of your Java applications. InterpreterĪfter the bytecode successfully loads, the Java interpreter creates an instance of the JVM that allows the Java program to be executed natively on the underlying machine. In the event that code violates system integrity or access rights, the class will be considered corrupted and won't be loaded. The bytecode verifier ensures the format and accuracy of Java code before it passes to the interpreter. Since Java classes are only loaded into memory when they're required, the JRE uses ClassLoaders to automate this process on demand. The Java ClassLoader dynamically loads all classes necessary to run a Java program. The following make up the JRE runtime architecture: ClassLoader The JDK and JRE interact with one another to create a sustainable runtime environment that enables the seamless execution of Java-based applications in virtually any operating system. You can download the JDK, including a compatible JRE, from Oracle (link resides outside IBM). In this way, the Java Runtime Environment is what enables a Java program to run in any operating system without modification. JVMs are available for multiple operating systems, and programs created with the JRE will run on all of them.
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The JRE combines Java code created using the JDK with the necessary libraries required to run it on a JVM and then creates an instance of the JVM that executes the resulting program. Every JRE includes a default JRE, but developers are free to choose another that meets the specific resource needs of their applications.
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What is the JRE (Java Runtime Environment)? Learn what the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) does and how it works with other Java platform components to run Java applications.
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