1. How Java Works

A program written in Java programming language is first translated into Java's intermediate language¹ (this is called "compiling", and the software used for compiling is called a "compiler"). The program is then executed on a Java virtual machine² which interprets the intermediate language on some target computer.

By preparing a Java virtual machine for each platform, one program translated into the intermediate language can be run on many different computers.

2. Advantages of Java

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1	An intermediate language lies between a programming language which is understood by human beings and a machine langauge which is executed by a computer. An intermediate language is interpreted by some certain software, generally called an interpreter.
2	A virtual machine is a software that pretends to be a computer.