Java Runtime Environment is used to run Java applications. Java Runtime Environment is called JRE. There are different versions of JRE most recent major versions are 6,7,8. Some of the applications generally require a different version because of comp ability problems. In this tutorial, we will look at how to get JRE or Java versions from various operating systems. If you want to learn JRE and differences with JDK please read the following tutorial.

Verify the JRE Version. These steps verify the JRE version that is installed on the server machine. On the keyboard, press the Win (Windows) key and the R key simultaneously to open the Run box. Alternatively, you can select Start, then Run. In the Run box, type cmd to run the Windows command console. Issue the following command: java -version. Note: Upgrade JRE to JRE 1.7.051+ and upgrade JDK plugin in the browser to JDK 7.0.510+. Because JRE 1.7 introduced security settings changes, you must clear the browser cache and temporary internet files of Java from Java Control Panel.

Java or JRE Version Numbers

Java uses a bit different version numbers. All java versions first numbers is 1 actual major version numbers change according to release which is current 8 . Example Java version number is like below.

Java is a set of computer software and specifications developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems, which was later acquired by the Oracle Corporation, that provides a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform computing environment. Java is used in a wide variety of computing platforms from embedded devices and mobile phones to enterprise servers.

1.8.0_99

Java Runtime Environment 1.7.0 32 Bit

Determine Java Version in Windows From Command Line

We have different methods to determine Java or JRE version in windows. The first way is running java command in command line with version information. We will also provide -version option like below.

We can see that cırrent JRE or Java version is 1.8.0_144 . Here we can call 8 as a major version number.

Determine Java Version in Windows From GUI

We can use the Java menu which resides in the Control Panel.

And then In the General tab click to About button. This will open a new window that will provide information about the current Java or JRE version.

We can see and get the following information.

• Version 8 specifies the main version of Java which is 8 in this example.
• Update 144 specifies the minor version which numbered as 144.

Determine Java Version Linux (CentOS, RedHat, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Mint)

We will use java command from the command line to get information about Java or JRE installation of Linux distributions.

We can see that a lot of information about Java and the platform is provided.

• openjdk version '1.8.0_131' is the current version of Java. We can see that the Java implementation is OpenJDK which is an open version of Java for Linux distributions.
• ubuntu is the operating system where Java is created.
• OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM specifies the Java CPU architecture which is 64 bit.

Determine Java Version Online

We can also use the currently installed Java version from the web. We will navigate to the following URL which is provided by Oracle Java. We will see a screen like below. First, we will click on the Agree and Continue button.

Java Runtime Environment 1.7.111 Download

For security reasons, current popular browsers have disabled the Java or JRE by default. So Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc. will show a warning like Java is disabled or not installed. If Java is enabled for browser we will see the current version of Java without a problem.