In 2024, even if you can use just brew..

Copybrew install openjdk@17 

Java will be installed here:

Copy/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/java

for Apple Intel path is /usr/local/... rather than /opt/homebrew/...

For the system Java wrappers to find this JDK, symlink it with:

Copysudo ln -sfn /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk\@17/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk.jdk

resp. for Intel

Copysudo ln -sfn /usr/local/opt/openjdk@17/libexec/openjdk.jdk /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk.jdk

Now, running /usr/libexec/java_home -V should show the path to JAVA 17, something like:

Copy17.0.9 (x86_64) "Homebrew" - "OpenJDK 17.0.9" /opt/homebrew/Cellar/openjdk@17/17.0.9/libexec/openjdk.jdk/Contents/Home

(This is what you are missing btw, if javac or javac --version does not give you a command-not-found but an The operation couldn’t be completed. Unable to locate a Java Runtime.)

In case you see the wrong version, check if the path to JAVA_HOME is set correctly. If not, you could set it by:

Copyexport JAVA_HOME=\$(/usr/libexec/java_home)

...give a try to sdkman, it's far better than brew

Copycurl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash

then open a new shell and try list to see what you could install ;-)

Copysdk list java 

At time of writing you could use:

Copysdk install java 17.0.4.1-tem

Java will be installed here:

Copy/Users/YOUR_USERNAME_HERE/.sdkman/candidates/java/17.0.4.1-tem

I tested this answer using a clean install of High Sierra 10.13.6. All updates from Apple were installed.

The downloads of the JDKs can be found at Java Downloads. I could not correctly view this site using Safari under High Sierra. Instead, I installed and used Firefox ESR (Extend Support Release). This link for Firefox download can be successfull viewed from Safari. The file I downloaded and installed was Firefox 115.16.1esr.dmg.

I tried JDK 23 by downloading and installing jdk-23_macos-x64_bin.dmg. This was not recognized by Java. Next, I tried JDK 21 by downloading and installing jdk-21_macos-x64_bin.dmg. This was recognized by Java.

Instructions for uninstalling a JDK can be found here. Personally, I just used the Finder to move the /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-23.jdk folder to the Trash.

I tested by using the simple code given below. The code was stored in the file named Simple.java.

class Simple{  
    public static void main(String args[]){  
     System.out.println("Hello Java");  
    }  
}

Example of testing is given below.

dmas-Mac:Desktop dma$ javac Simple.java 
dmas-Mac:Desktop dma$ java Simple
Hello Java

BTW, I tested JDK 23 using macOS Monterey and did not encounter the problems that occurred with High Sierra.