Confusion in class loading styles

Question

As I found in one thread Java: Difference between Class.forName and ClassLoader.loadClass that Class.forName() will always use the ClassLoader of the caller, whereas ClassLoader.loadClass() can specify a different ClassLoader

System.out.println(Class.forName("test.Employee").getClassLoader());
System.out.println(ClassLoader.getSystemClassLoader().loadClass("test.Employee").getClassLoader());

But above two lines are printing the same result

sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader@7ced01
sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader@7ced01

Please explain the reason.

if the classloaders are different in both styles then there should be two different objects. — Deepu--Java, Apr 24 '14 at 07:09
load the classes using different class loaders and compare the class objects (not class instances) for equality.. You will get your answer — TheLostMind, Apr 24 '14 at 07:09
@WhoAmI my question is not for Employee class object equality, It's for classloader's object. — Deepu--Java, Apr 24 '14 at 07:12
@DeepakTiwari you can add classloaders. Afterwards both methods can start to differ. — TheConstructor, Apr 24 '14 at 07:28
possible duplicate of [Difference betweeen Loading a class using ClassLoader and Class.forName](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4285855/difference-betweeen-loading-a-class-using-classloader-and-class-forname) — TheConstructor, Apr 24 '14 at 07:29

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 24 '14 at 07:33

There is no difference for you as your current class was loaded using the SystemClassLoader wich happens to be sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader@7ced01.

If you use a different classloader to load a class, both aproaches will use different classloaders when used in that class you loaded with a different classloader.

Confusion in class loading styles

1 Answers1