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Java Development Kit

JDK is an acronym for Java Development Kit . It physically exists.

The Java Development Kit (JDK) is a software development environment (also we can say it is a program development environment) used for developing Java applications and applets. It includes the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), an interpreter/loader (java), a compiler (javac), an archiver (jar), a documentation generator (javadoc) and other tools needed in Java development.

There are different JDKs for various platforms. The supported platforms include Windows, Linux and Solaris. Mac users need a different software development kit, which includes adaptations of some tools found in the JDK.

Point wise overview

• It is a bundle of software that you can use to develop Java based applications.
• Java Development Kit is needed for developing java applications.
• The JDK needs more Disk space as it contains the JRE along with various development tools.
• It includes the JRE, set of API classes, Java compiler, Webstart and additional files needed to write Java applets and applications.
• The JDK is a superset of the JRE, and contains everything that is in the JRE
• The JDK can be downloaded/supported freely from https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/

To run Java applications and applets we need only JRE.
To develop Java applications and applets as well as run them, the JDK is needed.

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