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JVM

  • The runtime environment that executes Java bytecode.

Key Concept​

JVM Architecture

  • Class Loader: Loads, links, and initializes .class files
  • Runtime Data Area: store data during execution
    • Method Area: metadata, static variables
    • Heap: object instances, shared across threads
    • Stack: per-thread, store frames (local variables, operand stack)
    • PC Register: per-thread, holds address of current instruction
    • Native Method Stack: for native methods (e.g. C/C++)
  • Execution Engine: interprets or compiles bytecode