JDK = Java SE && JDK != Java EE?

Question

Please confirm the above statement?

I need to know what they are referring to when they mention JDK.

Answer 1

Using the definitions above, you will find a JDK for Java SE (a set of java features) and a JDK for the Java EE (the features in Java SE + some "enterprise" features).

The Java Standard Edition and Java Enterprise Edition are the definition and APIs of the Java language, and the JDK are the tools you need to develop something using those features.

Answer 2

JDK = Java Development Kit

Java SE = Java Standard Edition

Java EE = Java Enterprise Edition

Answer 3

When you download the standard Java development kit, you get the standard edition of Java (Java SE) in a development form (JDK). The Java runtime (JRE) is the same set of libraries etc. without the development tools (compiler etc.)

Java EE is a set of additional APIs/interfaces (and most usually, some implementations of these). These are APIs for web applications, EJBs etc. You can use the JDK to build for this, provided you have the additional APIs and the implementations. Most usually a Java EE application will run in an application or web container.

Note (also) that until very recently, Java SE was known as J2SE, and Java EE was known as J2EE. The situation is confused further by the fact that many people (especially recruiters) confuse J2EE with EJBs (which are only one of the technologies in Java EE).

You're not alone in being confused by this. I regularly encounter experienced professionals who struggle with precisely what these mean, and Sun doesn't help by introducing Java 2 v1.6 (or is it Java 6?), and renaming J2EE to Java EE.

Answer 4

To be more clear

Java SE -- Java Standard Edition, it happens to come in two versions: the JDK and JRE. JDK has the compiler and other tools.

Java EE -- Java Enterprise Edition is simply a standard, and a couple of libraries consisting mostly of just interfaces. While there are 'stand alone' components that can be downloaded for Java EE, alone they're of little value (again, being mostly just interfaces), and are typically bundled with the container you use to deploy or develop Java EE applications on. Plus Java EE comprises as an umbrella of many standards (JMS, JSF, etc. etc.).

Answer 5

JDK = java development kit.

Java SE = java standard edition (aka JRE)

Java EE = java enterprise edition (aka J2EE)

---

Update: Sun isn't well known for their clear naming conventions (Java 1.5 and Java 5.0 are the same thing, for example).

It boils down to this: If you want to run java applications, go to http://www.java.com and click on the Download button.

If you want to write java applications, go to http://developer.sun.com and wade through it until you find a download that's about 80 MB called "JDK". There are several different versions of the JDK based on what kinds of stuff you're developing (web applications, console applications, etc.).

Answer 6

In general JDK refers to the Java SE Development Kit. You can also see the abbreviation on the respective download page and not on the one for the Java EE Development Kit or the Java ME Development Kit.