JVM: java的虚拟机。告诉机器用Java代码做什么。不能按原样下载JVM。它被打包在其他组件中。

JRE:上面提到的其他组件是JRE。 它是JVM+其他jar创建运行时环境

JDK:包含JRE(JRE又包含JVM)。获得JDK后，不需要分别安装JRE和JVM。它包含编译器，编译你的.java文件到.class文件

JDK——像javac这样的工具用于将*.java文件编译为*.class字节码文件(主要用于开发Java程序)

JRE -运行*.jar文件的工具(基本上运行Java程序)

JVM -将*.class文件编译为可执行机器代码的工具(运行所有Java字节码)

OpenJDK只是Java JDK的一个发行版。

JVM

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is the virtual machine that runs the Java bytecodes. The JVM doesn't understand Java source code; that's why you need compile your *.java files to obtain *.class files that contain the bytecodes understood by the JVM. It's also the entity that allows Java to be a "portable language" (write once, run anywhere). Indeed, there are specific implementations of the JVM for different systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, see the Wikipedia list), the aim is that with the same bytecodes they all give the same results.

JDK和JRE

要解释JDK和JRE之间的区别，最好是阅读Oracle文档并参考图:

Java Runtime Environment (JRE) The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) provides the libraries, the Java Virtual Machine, and other components to run applets and applications written in the Java programming language. In addition, two key deployment technologies are part of the JRE: Java Plug-in, which enables applets to run in popular browsers; and Java Web Start, which deploys standalone applications over a network. It is also the foundation for the technologies in the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) for enterprise software development and deployment. The JRE does not contain tools and utilities such as compilers or debuggers for developing applets and applications. Java Development Kit (JDK) The JDK is a superset of the JRE, and contains everything that is in the JRE, plus tools such as the compilers and debuggers necessary for developing applets and applications.

注意，Oracle并不是唯一提供jdk的公司。

OpenJDK

OpenJDK是JDK的开源实现，也是Oracle JDK的基础。Oracle JDK和OpenJDK之间几乎没有区别。

区别在这个博客中说明:

Q: What is the difference between the source code found in the OpenJDK repository, and the code you use to build the Oracle JDK? A: It is very close - our build process for Oracle JDK releases builds on OpenJDK 7 by adding just a couple of pieces, like the deployment code, which includes Oracle's implementation of the Java Plugin and Java WebStart, as well as some closed source third party components like a graphics rasterizer, some open source third party components, like Rhino, and a few bits and pieces here and there, like additional documentation or third party fonts. Moving forward, our intent is to open source all pieces of the Oracle JDK except those that we consider commercial features such as JRockit Mission Control (not yet available in Oracle JDK), and replace encumbered third party components with open source alternatives to achieve closer parity between the code bases.

JDK 11的更新

Donald Smith的一篇文章试图消除Oracle JDK和Oracle的OpenJDK之间的差异:https://blogs.oracle.com/java-platform-group/oracle-jdk-releases-for-java-11-and-later

正如@Alan Evangelista在评论中提到的，Java Web Start已被Oracle在Java SE 9中弃用，并在Java SE 11中删除。

JVM是执行Java代码的虚拟机

JRE是运行Java应用程序所需的环境(标准库和JVM)

JDK是带有开发人员工具和文档的JRE

OpenJDK是一个开源版本的JDK，不像Oracle拥有的普通JDK

总而言之:

JRE = JVM + Java包(如util, math, lang, awt, swing等)+ 运行时库 JDK = JRE +开发/调试工具

如果你想用java开发，你需要JDK，但如果你只想运行java，你需要JRE。

Java虚拟机(JVM)是可以执行Java字节码的虚拟机。它是Java软件平台的代码执行组件。

Java开发工具包(JDK)是Oracle公司针对Java开发人员的产品。自Java引入以来，它一直是迄今为止使用最广泛的Java软件开发工具包(SDK)。

Java运行时环境，也被称为Java运行时、运行时环境

OpenJDK (Open Java Development Kit)是Java编程语言的免费开源实现。这是太阳微系统公司在2006年开始努力的结果。该实现是根据GNU通用公共许可证(GPL)许可的，有一个链接例外。