Java Architecture

Java is a platform-independent language. For that we need to understand the steps of

compilation and execution of code.

The code written in Java, is converted into byte codes which is done by the
Java Compiler
The byte code, is converted into machine code by the JVM.
The Machine code is executed directly by the machine.
Bytecodes are effectively platform-independent. The java virtual machine takes care of
the differences between the bytecodes for the different platforms. This makes the Java
Compiled Code platform independent.

There are three main components of Java architechure: JVM, JRE, and JDK. Java Virtual
Machine, Java Runtime Environment and Java Development Kit respectively. Lets
understand them one by one.

JVM
JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is an abstract machine(software) that enables your computer
to run a Java program.
When you run the Java program, Java compiler - javac first compiles your Java code to
bytecode. Then, the JVM translates bytecode into native machine code (set of
instructions that a computer's CPU executes directly). JVM comes with JIT(Just-in-
Time) compiler that converts Java source code into low-level machine language. Hence,
it runs more faster as a regular application.

JRE
JRE (Java Runtime Environment) is a software package that provides Java class
libraries, Java Virtual Machine (JVM), and other components that are required to run
Java applications. JRE is the superset of JVM.

When our software tends to execute a particular program, it requires some environment
to run in. Usually, it’s any operating system for example, Unix, Linux, Microsoft
Windows, or the MacOS. Here our JRE acts as a translater and also a facilitator
between the java program and the operating system.

JDK
JDK (Java Development Kit) is a software development kit required to develop
applications in Java. When you download JDK, JRE is also downloaded with it.

In addition to JRE, JDK also contains a number of development tools (compilers,

JavaDocs, Java Debugger, etc).
JVM Deep Dive
Java applications are platform independent - write once, run anywhere. This is because
of JVM which performs the following tasks -

Loads the code

Verifies the code
Executes the code
Provides runtime environment

Here are the important components of JVM architecture:

1. Class Loader The class loader is a subsystem used for loading class files. It
performs three major functions viz. Loading, Linking, and Initialization.Whenever we
run the java program, class loader loads it first.

2. Method Area It is one of the Data Area in JVM, in which Class data will be stored.
Static Variables, Static Blocks, Static Methods, Instance Methods are stored in this
area. JVM Method Area stores structure of class like metadata, the code for Java
methods, and the constant runtime pool.

3. Heap A heap is created when the JVM starts up. It may increase or decrease in size
while the application runs. All the Objects, arrays, and instance variables are stored
in a heap. This memory is shared across multiple threads.

4. JVM language Stacks Java language Stacks store local variables, and its partial
results. Each and every thread has its own JVM language stack, created concurrently as
the thread is created. A new stack frame is created when method is invoked, and it is
removed when method invocation process is complete. JVM stack is known as a thread
stack.
5. PC Registers PC registers store the address of the Java virtual machine
instruction, which is currently executing. In Java, each thread has its separate PC
register.

6. Native Method Stacks

Native method stacks hold the instruction of native code depends on the native
library. It allocates memory on native heaps or uses any type of stack.

7) Execution Engine Execution Engine is the brain of JVM. It has two components.

JIT compiler
Garbage collector

JIT compiler: The Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler is a part of the runtime environment. It
helps in improving the performance of Java applications by compiling bytecodes to
machine code at run time. The JIT compiler is enabled by default. When a method is
compiled, the JVM calls the compiled code of that method directly. The JIT compiler
compiles the bytecode of that method into machine code, compiling it “just in time” to
run.

Garbage collector: As the name explains that Garbage Collector means to collect the
unused material. Well, in JVM this work is done by Garbage collection. It tracks each
and every object available in the JVM heap space and removes unwanted ones. Garbage
collector works in two simple steps known as Mark and Sweep:

Mark – it is where the garbage collector identifies which piece of memory is in use
and which are not

Sweep – it removes objects identified during the “mark” phase.

8) Native Method interface

The Native Method Interface is a programming framework. It allows Java code, which is
running in a JVM to call by libraries and native applications.

9) Native Method Libraries

Native Libraries is a collection of the Native Libraries (C, C++), which are needed by
the Execution Engine.