Starting from Java 9 the module system was introduced, making provision of JRE separately redundant.
Through, it seems that it was still possible to download it. For example, from here now Java 9 archive Also, here it's only stated that :
Restructure the JDK and JRE run-time images to draw a clear distinction between files that developers, deployers, and end-users can rely upon and, when appropriate, modify, in contrast to files that are internal to the implementation and subject to change without notice.
The new image structure eliminates this distinction: A JDK image is simply a run-time image that happens to contain the full set of development tools and other items historically found in the JDK.
So no talk about complete removal. From : jdk-9
When you install jdk-9, public jre-9 also gets installed automatically.
Also, I was thinking that started from Java 9 the custom runtime should be always created using the jlink, but it seems it's enforced now only from Java 11. From the release notes of Java 11 here Oracle JDK release notes:
In Windows and macOS, installing the JDK in previous releases optionally installed a JRE. In JDK 11, this is no longer an option. In this release, the JRE or Server JRE is no longer offered. Only the JDK is offered. Users can use jlink to create smaller custom runtimes.
But then I can find a lot of discussions like those:
Where is Java 9 JRE?
Create jre from OpenJDK Windows
- Why did Java 11 JRE not install with JDK and where is the download for just the Java 11 JRE?
- Is there an openjdk-11-jre?
Is this the case and it is not possible to download JRE directly since Java 11? Or am I mixing implementations between (Oracle and OpenJDK)? Or were those discussions above misleading?
Edit: I don't need to download the jre, I could create it via jlink or use already avaialble solution, my question is more of a theoretic.