How is traditional compilation process different from Java compilation process?

In traditional compilation process, the machine language code generated by the compiler is specific to the platform for which the source code is compiled. The executable file generated for one platform like Windows will not work on other platforms like Macintosh. In Java compilation process, the source code of a Java program is compiled to an intermediate binary code called the Bytecode. This Bytecode is interpreted and executed by JVM on the target platform. Bytecode is platform independent so the same Bytecode which is generated for one platform like Windows will work on other platforms like Macintosh without any modifications.