Execution Engine

In the intricate landscape of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), the execution engine takes center stage, playing a pivotal role in interpreting bytecode and executing just-in-time (JIT) compilation for performance optimization. Bytecode, the intermediary language between Java source code and the JVM, undergoes interpretation as the execution engine dynamically translates it into native machine code during program execution. The stack-based execution model employed by the JVM manipulates an operand stack, pushing and popping operands as bytecode instructions are interpreted. While bytecode interpretation ensures platform independence, it cannot consistently deliver peak performance due to an additional abstraction layer.

To address performance challenges, the JVM incorporates JIT compilation. This strategic optimization technique identifies frequently executed code segments, or hotspots, and dynamically compiles them into native machine code at runtime. By selectively...