<language, architecture> (JVM) A specification for software
which interprets Java programs that have been compiled into
byte-codes, and usually stored in a ".class" file. The JVM
instruction set is stack-oriented, with variable
instruction length. Unlike some other instruction sets, the
JVM's supports object-oriented programming directly by
including instructions for object method invocation (similar
to subroutine call in other instruction sets).
The JVM itself is written in C and so can be ported to run
on most platforms. It needs thread support and I/O (for
dynamic class loading). The Java byte-code is independent
of the platform.
There are also some hardware implementations of the JVM.
