What is the relationship between Java Virtual Machine and Java Runtime Environment?

Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a virtual machine that executes Java bytecode, providing platform independence. Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is the environment for running Java applications, which includes JVM, standard libraries, and other components necessary for running Java programs.

In simpler terms, JVM is the part of JRE that directly executes bytecode, and JRE is the complete set of tools for running Java applications.