
For example, if you are deploying a web application with JSP, you are technically just running Java programs inside the application server. Sometimes, even if you are not planning to do any Java development on a computer, you still need the JDK installed. Also, you should know that some applications might refer to Java 8 as version 1.8.0. Oracle plans to maintain it until at least 2030. Java 8 is the last free software public update for commercial use, which explains why it remains popular. You can download the version you need below: Java 8, Java 11 and Java 17 are the three long-term support versions recommended by Oracle. However, many versions of Java are actively maintained for compatibility purposes. The latest version of Java is Java 20 or JDK 20 released on March, 2023. It is capable of creating and compiling programs. It has everything the JRE has, but also the compiler (javac) and tools (like javadoc and jdb). The JDK is the Java Development Kit, the full-featured SDK for Java. However, it cannot be used to create new programs.


It is a package of everything necessary to run a compiled Java program, including the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), the Java Class Library, the Java command, and other infrastructure. Contains everything required to run Java applications on your system. The JRE is the Java Runtime Environment, it covers most users needs. If you're developing Java applications, you'll want to download the JDK, which also includes the JRE. If you need to run Java applications, downloading and installing the JRE is enough. Java SE is the standard version of Java, it includes libraries for desktop applications, networking, security, database access, and more.
