Java Runtime Environment (JRE) provides the Java Virtual Machine and standard libraries required to run compatible Java applications. It is intended for users of Java-based desktop tools, games and business software, rather than for writing Java code. The runtime also includes legacy deployment technologies associated with applets and network-delivered applications; modern browsers generally no longer support Java applets.
| Author: | Oracle |
| License: | Freeware |
| Price: | FREE |
| Released: | Oct 18, 2023 |
| File size: | 58.30 MB |
| Downloads: | 849 |
| Keywords: | cross-platform functionality, java applet runtime, java virtual machine, Java JRE, JRE, x64 software, Sun Microsystems Inc, Windows 10 compatibility, reliable programming platform, java runtime environment, applet, java runtime, Sun Java, run java applications, Java Runtime, Runtime, Java, efficient code execution, Applet, Oracle Java Runtime Environment, java runtime libraries |
| Author URL: | https://www.oracle.com/ |
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is Oracle's software package for running programs written in the Java programming language. It is intended for people who need to use Java-based desktop tools, business applications, games or other software without developing those programs themselves. The JRE supplies the components an application needs at runtime, including the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and standard Java libraries. It does not serve as a general-purpose editor or provide the tools used to create Java source code; its role is to make compiled Java applications executable on a computer with a compatible runtime.
When a Java application starts, the JVM loads and executes its compiled code, while the libraries provide common functions used by programs. These include capabilities for handling data, working with files and communicating over networks. The application can therefore rely on familiar Java services rather than bundling every basic function itself. Installing the JRE can resolve a missing-runtime requirement when launching software that depends on Java, although the application and runtime must be compatible with one another. The JRE runs the program; it does not replace the program or supply its own task-specific features.
Java has been used for a broad range of software, from internal company tools and networked business applications to utilities and games. Developers can also package a runtime with their application, so users may not need to install a separate system-wide JRE for that program. Where an application expects an installed Java runtime, the JRE provides the execution environment it needs. Its libraries and virtual machine are shared infrastructure, so multiple compatible Java applications can use the same installation rather than each requiring an entirely separate execution engine.
The JRE has also included deployment technologies for distributing Java software over networks and running Java applets in web browsers. These mechanisms belong to older Java deployment workflows: modern browsers generally no longer support the plug-in technology applets depended on, so the browser feature should not be treated as a way to run Java content on current websites. Java Web Start and applet support likewise depend on the particular software and environment involved. For present-day use, the main purpose of the JRE is running compatible Java applications, and users should follow the requirements provided by the application they intend to run. The package is freeware and is intended for Windows systems; compatibility with a specific application depends on its Java requirements.