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A '''Java virtual machine''' ('''JVM''') is a set of computer [[software]] programs and data structures which use a [[virtual machine]] model for the [[Execution (computing)|execution]] of other [[computer program]]s and [[Scripting language|scripts]].  The model used by a '''JVM''' accepts a form of computer [[intermediate language]] commonly referred to as [[Java bytecode]]. 

'''Java virtual machines''' operate on Java [[bytecode]], which is normally (but not necessarily) generated from [[Java (programming language)|Java]] [[source code]]; a JVM can also be used to implement programming languages other than Java. 

The '''JVM''' is an important component of the [[Java (programming language)#Platform|Java Platform]]. Because '''JVM'''s are available for many hardware and software [[platform (computing)|platforms]], Java can be both [[middleware]] and a [[platform (computing)|platform]] in its own right – hence the expression "[[write once, run anywhere]]." The use of the same bytecode for all platforms allows Java to be described as "compile once, run anywhere", as opposed to "write once, compile anywhere", which describes cross-platform [[compiled language]]s.

== Java Virtual Machine Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:JvmSpec7.png|Overview of a Java virtual machine (JVM) architecture based on The Java Virtual Machine Specification Java SE 7 Edition
</gallery>
== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* ''[http://java.sun.com/docs/books/vmspec/2nd-edition/jvms-clarify.html Clarifications and Amendments to the Java Virtual Machine Specification, Second Edition]'' includes list of changes to be made to support J2SE 5.0 and JSR 45
* [http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=45 JSR 45] – Specifies changes to the class file format to support source-level debugging of languages such as [[JavaServer Pages|JSP]] and [[SQLJ]] that are translated to Java
{{refend}}
== Other websites ==
* [http://java.sun.com/docs/books/vmspec/ The Java Virtual Machine Specification]
* {{dmoz|Computers/Programming/Languages/Java/Implementations|Java implementations}}
* [http://logikbase.com/website/techprofile.cfm?licid=880 A decade after Java arrived, there have been improvements in the runtime performance of platform-independent virtual-machine based software.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302044803/http://logikbase.com/website/techprofile.cfm?licid=880 |date=2009-03-02 }}
* [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9067358 Sun to build virtual machine for iPhone - ComputerWorld] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508214225/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9067358 |date=2008-05-08 }}


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[[Category:Computer science]]