Java Runtime Environment (JRE) allows you to play online games, chat with people around the world, calculate your mortgage interest, and view images in 3D, just to name a few. It's also integral to the intranet applications and other e-business solutions that are the foundation of corporate computing.
It provides the libraries, the Java Virtual Machine, and other components to run applets and applications written in the Java programming language. In addition, two key deployment technologies are part of the JRE: Java Plug-in, which Enables Applets to Run in Popular Browsers; and Web Start, which deploys standalone applications over a network. Many cross platform applications also require Java to operate properly.
Itis a programming language and computing platform first released by Sun Microsystems in 1995. There are lots of applications and websites that will not work unless you have Java installed, and more are created every day. The program is fast, secure, and reliable. From laptops to datacenters, game consoles to scientific supercomputers, cell phones to the Internet, Java is everywhere! Itis at the heart of digital lifestyle. It's the platform for launching careers, exploring human-to-digital interfaces, architecting the world's best applications, and unlocking innovation everywhere—from garages to global organizations.
Why should I upgrade to the latest version?
The latest version contains important enhancements to improve performance, stability and security of the applications that run on your machine. Installing this free update will ensure that your applications continue to run safely and efficiently.
What will I get when I download software?
The Java Runtime Environment 64 bit (JRE) is what you get when you download software. The JRE consists of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Java platform core classes, and supporting Java platform libraries. The JRE is the runtime portion of the software, which is all you need to run it in your Web browser.
What is Java Plug-in software?
The program is a component of the (JRE). The JRE allows applets written in the programming language to run inside various internet browsers. The Plug-in software is not a standalone program and cannot be installed separately.
I have heard the terms Virtual Machine and JVM. Is this software?
The Virtual Machine is only one aspect of software that is involved in web interaction. The Java Virtual Machine is built right into your software download and helps run Java apps.
Note: When your installation completes, you may need to restart your browser (close all browser windows and re-open) to enable the installation.
Also Available: Download Java Runtime Environment for Mac

Java Development Kit for Mac (also known as JDK) is a highly professional cross-platform SDK platform created and regularly supported by Oracle Corporation.With a goal of providing specific implementation of Java SE, Java EE and Java ME platforms developers from all around the world use it. Because of its strong development support, this SDK package represents the most popular and widely used Java SDK platform for creation of both enterprise projects and open-source projects of all sizes. Popularity of Java Development Kits present not only because of the absolutely astonishing set of tools, services and features that this package offers, but also because in late 2006 Oracle released this SDK under the GNU General Public License, making it free for everyone.
Java Development Kit for Mac (often described by Oracle as an “extended” package that expands upon the normal tools that could be find in Java SE Development Kit) hosts wide variety of tools for streamlined developing, debugging, testing, and monitoring of Java applications. The core of the package consists from more than 30 individual tools and service which can effortlessly control every aspect of Java application development, from the concept phase to the final deployment to the end-users.
Contents of the JDK:
Development Tools
(In the bin/ subdirectory) Tools and utilities that will help you develop, execute, debug, and document programs written in the JavaTM programming language.
Runtime Environment
(In the jre/ subdirectory) An implementation of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for use by the JDK. The JRE includes a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), class libraries, and other files that support the execution of programs written in the Java programming language.
Additional Libraries
(In the lib/ subdirectory) Additional class libraries and support files required by the development tools.
Demo Applets and Applications
(In the demo/ subdirectory) Examples, with source code, of programming for the Javaplatform. These include examples that use Swing and other Java Foundation Classes, and the Java Platform Debugger Architecture.
Sample Code
(In the sample subdirectory) Samples, with source code, of programming for certain Java API's.
C header Files
(In the include/ subdirectory) Header files that support native-code programming using the Java Native Interface, the JVM Tool Interface, and other functionality of the Javaplatform.
Source Code
(In src.zip) Java programming language source files for all classes that make up the Java core API (that is, sources files for the java.*, javax.* and some org.* packages, but not for com.sun.* packages). This source code is provided for informational purposes only, to help developers learn and use the Java programming language. These files do not include platform-specific implementation code and cannot be used to rebuild the class libraries. To extract these file, use any common zip utility. Or, you may use the Jar utility in the JDK's bin/ directory: jar xvf src.zip. Download Java Development Kit for Mac now!
Also Available: Download Java Development Kit for Windows