Java Runtime Environment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:22, 9 August 2007

Revision as of 22:29, 1 September 2007

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{{cleanup|date=September 2007}}<!-- needs expansion to clarify Sun's versions and to define "many" and "Normal" -->

[[Image:Java_Logo.svg|thumb|130px|right|Java Logo]]

The '''Java Runtime Environment''', or '''JRE''', or '''J2RE''' is a [[software]] bundle from [[Sun Microsystems]] that allows a [[computer system]] to run a [[Java platform|Java application]]. Java applications are in widespread use and necessary to view many Internet pages. NormalAs of 2007 normal computer users can download the current JRE version (Sun lists JRE 6.0, JRE 1.5 and JRE 1.4) by testing their [[Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM) at the Java.com [http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp test page].

The software bundle consists of the [[Java_Virtual_Machine|JVM]] and programming interface ([[Application Programming Interface|API]]). The API provides a set of standard [[Java platform#Class libraries|class libraries]]. The virtual machine and API have to be consistent with each other and are therefore bundled together as the JRE. This can be considered a virtual computer in which the virtual machine is the processor and the API is the user interface.