What does JVM stand for?

JVM stands for Java Virtual Machine. It is the software-based execution environment that runs Java bytecode and provides Java programs with a consistent platform-independent target.

When a Java program is compiled, the Java compiler normally converts its source code into bytecode rather than directly into the native machine code of one operating system. A JVM then loads, verifies, and executes that bytecode. It may interpret instructions or use just-in-time compilation to translate frequently used code into native machine instructions.

The JVM is not the same thing as the Java compiler or the JDK. The compiler creates bytecode, the JVM runs it, and the Java Development Kit (JDK) bundles development tools together with a runtime environment.

The JVM can also run programs written in other languages, including Kotlin, Scala, and Groovy, when those languages compile to Java-compatible bytecode. This wider ecosystem is why “Java Virtual Machine” refers to both a Java runtime and a broader execution platform.