JVM Architecture

When you run a java program, a new JVM instance created, and its life ends togeter with the java program.

If you run three java programs, there are three JVM instances here.

JVM Achitecture

Runtime Data Area

Method Area, Heap, Java Stack, PC Register, Native Method Stack.

Method Area and Heap are shared by threads in the same JVM

Java Stack, PC Register and Native Method Stack are independend among threads.

Method Area

store meta data for class and static variables.

This is thread safe, cause it is shared among threads.

Its size is resizeable. Initial size, min size, max size...

Memory of it can be GC. Uninstall unreferrenced classes.

Heap

store instances of classes -- Objects

Jack Stack

Consist of Stack Frames. A stack frame contains all status about invoking for a java method. Everytime a thread calls a new method, JVM push a new stack frame into Jack Stack, and pop it out when the method returns. 

PC Register

Always points to the next directive that going to be executed.

Here is the picture about how JVM allocate memory for runtime data area for threads: