JVMs are available for many hardware and software platforms (i.e.JVM is plateform dependent). JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is an abstract machine. It is a specification that provides runtime environment in which java bytecode can be executed.

What is JVM?

It is:

1. A specification where working of Java Virtual Machine is specified. But implementation provider is independent to choose the algorithm. Its implementation has been provided by Sun and other companies.
2. An implementation Its implementation is known as JRE (Java Runtime Environment).
3. Runtime Instance Whenever you write java command on the command prompt to run the java class, and instance of JVM is created.

What it does?

The JVM performs following operation:

• Loads code
• Verifies code
• Executes code
• Provides runtime environment

JVM provides definitions for the:

• Memory area
• Class file format
• Register set
• Garbage-collected heap
• Fatal error reporting etc.

Internal Architecture of JVM

1) Classloader:

Classloader is a subsystem of JVM that is used to load class files.

2) Class(Method) Area:

Class(Method) Area stores per-class structures such as the runtime constant pool, field and method data, the code for methods.

3) Heap:

It is the runtime data area in which objects are allocated.

4) Stack:

5) Program Counter Register:

PC (program counter) register. It contains the address of the Java virtual machine instruction currently being executed.

6) Native Method Stack:

It contains all the native methods used in the application.

7) Execution Engine: