Where does Java keep standard library classes?

Question

Where does Java keep standard library classes like java.util.* on the hard drive under Windows OS?

If you're looking for the source, it's online. – Matt Ball May 26 '13 at 21:37 — Matt Ball, May 26 '13 at 21:37

score 12 · Answer 1 · answered May 26 '13 at 21:38

When you say

import java.util.Date;

you are not reading a file. You are telling the compiler to treat the type reference "Date" as if it was "java.util.Date".

When the compiler later resolves java.util.date it will find it in the JDK's jre/lib/rt.jar file.

http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t125842-re-newbie-q-where-is-java-util.html

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:44

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If you are looking for the source code, you can find the source code online as described here:

Where to find Java JDK Source Code?

Additionally, you can find it within the src.zip file:

E.g. my own computer this is the:

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_01\src.zip

The actual compiled classes are contained with the **lib/rt.jar file that the compiler and jvm uses.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:44

Community

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answered May 26 '13 at 21:43

Menelaos

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 26 '13 at 21:45

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In the JDK1.X.X... directory there is a zip file named src.zip. unzip it and have a look. you might want to make a copy of it and move it to another directory before you do it.

answered May 26 '13 at 21:45

conny

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Where does Java keep standard library classes?

3 Answers3