The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a virtual machine that enables a computer to run Java programs. It provides a platform-independent way of executing code, meaning that code written in the Java programming language can run on any operating system as long as it has a JVM. The JVM is an important part of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
Example: A Java program written on a Windows machine can be run on a Mac, as long as the Mac has a JVM installed. The JVM will interpret the code and execute it on the Mac, regardless of the original operating system.