What is the primary purpose of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) in the Java programming language?

The primary purpose of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) in the Java programming language is to execute Java bytecode. Here are the steps that explain this process:

1. Compilation: When you write and save a Java program, the Java compiler (.java file) converts the human-readable source code into a machine-readable bytecode (.class file). This bytecode is not platform-specific and can't be directly executed by the hardware.

2. Loading: The ClassLoader in JVM loads the .class files or the bytecode along with other Java classes needed for executing the program.

3. Verification: The bytecode verifier in JVM checks the format and checks the code for any illegal code that can violate access rights to objects.

4. Execution: The Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler of JVM converts the Java bytecode into machine language, which is then executed by the machine or operating system.

The JVM provides a platform-independent way of executing code, as it takes the bytecode and interprets it into the machine code suitable for a particular hardware and operating system combination. This means you can write a Java program once and run it anywhere that has a JVM, which is one of the key benefits of Java and a reason for its widespread use.