Java Code Execution: From Source Code to Bytecode to Object Code
.png)
This article provides an overview of the Java code execution process, detailing how Java source code is transformed into bytecode and subsequently into object code. Understanding this process is crucial for developers who want to optimize their Java applications and comprehend the underlying mechanics of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). 1. Java Source Code Java source code is written in plain text files with a .java extension. This code is human-readable and contains the instructions that define the behavior of the program. For example: public class HelloWorld { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("Hello, World!"); } } 2. Compilation to Bytecode The first step in executing Java code is compiling the source code into bytecode. This is done using the Java Compiler ( javac ). The compiler translates the human-readable Java code into an intermediate form known as bytecode, which is stored in .class files. The bytecode is not machine-specif...