Step 1: Purpose of JIT Compilation.
JIT stands for Just-In-Time compilation, and it is a part of the JVM. The JIT compiler improves the performance of Java applications by compiling bytecode into native machine code during runtime, rather than at the time of compilation. This process optimizes performance because the program is compiled only when needed, which speeds up execution.
Step 2: How JIT Works.
When a Java program is run, the JVM interprets the bytecode. The JIT compiler identifies "hot spots" (frequently used code) and compiles those into native code. As the program continues, the JIT compiler further optimizes the performance of the application by compiling more frequently used code into machine code.
Step 3: Benefits of JIT.
JIT compilation improves performance by minimizing the overhead associated with interpreting bytecode and directly executing machine code. This makes Java programs run faster, particularly for long-running applications.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{Just-In-Time Compilation}} \]