title: What are the differences between all the locations Java is installed on Mac OS?
body: <p>There are several different Java executables on my Mac:</p>
  
  <pre><code>/usr/bin/java (symlink to /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/A/Commands/java)
  /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/A/Commands/java
  /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java
  /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-13.0.1.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Most of them are Java 13, except for <code>/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin</code> is java 8. <code>which java</code> in the command line gives you <code>/usr/bin/java</code>, while double-clicking a jar file opens <code>/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java</code>.</p>
  
  <p><strong>What's the difference between each of these locations, and what's the reason that each one exists?</strong></p>