The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is the core component of the Java ecosystem that enables Java code to run on any platform.
It acts as an abstraction layer between the compiled bytecode and the underlying operating system, translating platform-independent code into machine-specific instructions.
The JVM not only executes code but also provides crucial runtime features such as Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation, garbage collection, and memory management.
Understanding the JVM is essential for developers who want to write efficient Java applications, analyze performance, or optimize how the code actually runs “under the hood.”