JJDK Field Guide

Oracle JDK · Developer edition

Oracle JDK
for developers.

A practical field guide to choosing, installing, and working with the Java Development Kit—the foundation beneath millions of applications.

Download JDK ↗Explore releases ↓
jdk-field-guide / terminal

$ java --version

java 26.0.0 2026-03-17
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM

$ _

01Verify your runtime before you begin.

01 / Releases

Choose your
starting point.

Java ships on a six-month cadence. That rhythm gives teams a choice: adopt new features quickly, or anchor long-lived work to a release with extended support.

26Feature release

JDK 26

For teams who want the latest Java.

Best for
Experimenting, learning, and staying close to the platform.
Choose when
Your project can move with the six-month release cycle.
Explore JDK 26 ↗
25Current LTS

JDK 25

The recommended baseline for long-lived projects.

Best for
Production services, platforms, and teams planning ahead.
Choose when
You want a stable foundation and a longer support horizon.
Explore JDK 25 ↗

02 / Toolkit

The tools
under the hood.

The JDK is more than a runtime. It is a focused set of tools for building, inspecting, documenting, and shipping Java software.

01java

Launches applications on the JVM and reports the runtime your project is using.

02javac

Compiles Java source into portable bytecode, with precise control over language levels.

03jshell

A fast, low-friction REPL for exploring APIs, syntax, and small ideas.

04javadoc

Turns source comments into searchable, navigable API documentation.

05jlink

Assembles a compact runtime image containing only the modules your app needs.

06jpackage

Packages a Java application as a native installer for its target platform.

03 / Install

From download
to first run.

Pick the installer for your platform, then verify both the runtime and compiler are on your path.

Windows

Use the x64 or ARM64 installer, then open a new terminal.

macOS

Choose the package for Apple silicon or Intel architecture.

Linux

Use the archive or your distribution’s package tooling.

$ java --version

$ javac --version

$ jshell

Read the JDK 26 installation guide ↗

04 / Licensing

Read the terms.
Then build.

Oracle JDK licensing can depend on how and where you use Java. Terms, support timelines, and permitted use can change.

For anything beyond local evaluation, read Oracle’s current documentation and choose the terms that match your organization, distribution model, and deployment environment. This guide is educational—not legal advice.

01Java SE Support Roadmap ↗02Java licensing FAQ ↗

Ready when you are

Start with the
right JDK.

Visit Oracle downloads ↗