Java - Unloading classes

Question

I'm loading classes with the standard Java classloader:

ClassLoader loader = new MemoryClassLoader(s.toByteArray());
Class<?> myClass = loader.loadClass(className);

MemoryClassLoader is directly derived from ClassLoader and overrides the findClass()-method:

Override
protected Class<?> findClass(String name) throws ClassNotFoundException {
   return defineClass(name, byteArray, 0, byteArray.length);
}

What I would like to know is if it is needed to unload the loaded class somehow. Is there any unload()-method or something I've to call?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/148681/unloading-classes-in-java — user3707125, Jun 08 '15 at 15:15
tl;dr `Class`es are garbage collected at the same time as their `ClassLoader`. You'll need more `ClassLoader` instances. — Tom Hawtin - tackline, Jun 08 '15 at 15:26

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 08 '15 at 15:31

1

You don't have to unload or unallocate your classes. The Garbage Collector (aka GC) does all the unset stuffs for you.

answered Jun 08 '15 at 15:31

gavard.e

1 Answers1