A java package is a group of
similar types of classes,
interfaces and
sub-packages.
Package in java can be categorized in two forms
built-in package and
user-defined package.
There are many built-in packages such as
java,
lang,
awt,
javax,
swing,
net,
io,
util,
sql ………..
Advantage Packages
1) Java package is used to categorize the classes and interfaces so that
they can be easily maintained.
2) Java package provides access protection.
3) Java package removes naming collision
example
The package keyword is used to create a package in java.
//save as Simple.java
package mypack;
public class Simple
{
public static void main(String args[ ])
{
System.out.println("Welcome to package");
}
}
to compile package
If you are not using any IDE:
javac -d directory javafilename
example
javac -d . Simple.java
The -d switch specifies the destination where to put the generated class
file. You can use any directory name like /home (in case of Linux), d:/abc
(in case of windows) etc.
If you want to keep the package within the same directory, you can use .
(dot).
to run package program
use fully qualified name e.g. mypack.Simple to run the class.
To Compile: javac -d . Simple.java
To Run: java mypack.Simple
The -d is a switch that tells the compiler where to put the class file i.e.
it represents destination. The . represents the current folder.
to access package from another package
There are three ways to access the package from outside the package.
1. import package.*;
2. import package.classname;
3. fully qualified name.
Using packagename.*
If you use package.* then all the classes and interfaces of this package
will be accessible but not subpackages.
The import keyword is used to make the classes and interface of another
package accessible to the current package.
Example of package that import the packagename.*
//save by A.java
package pack;
public class A
{
public void msg( )
{System.out.println("Hello");
}
}
//save by B.java
package mypack;
import pack.*;
class B
{
public static void main(String args[ ])
{
A obj = new A();
obj.msg();
}
}
packagename.classname
If you import package.classname then only declared class of this package
will be accessible.
Example of package by import package.classname
//save by A.java
package pack;
public class A
{
public void msg()
{
System.out.println("Hello");
}
}
//save by B.java
package mypack;
import pack.A;
class B
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
A obj = new A();
obj.msg();
}
}
Using fully qualified name
If you use fully qualified name then only declared class of this package
will be accessible. Now there is no need to import.
But you need to use fully qualified name every time when you are
accessing the class or interface.
It is generally used when two packages have same class name e.g. java.util
and java.sql packages contain Date class.
Example of package by import fully qualified name
//save by A.java
package pack;
public class A
{
public void msg( )
{
System.out.println("Hello");
}
}
//save by B.java
package mypack;
class B
{
public static void main(String args[ ])
{
pack.A obj = new pack.A();//using fully qualified name
obj.msg();
}
}
Sequence of the program must be package then import then class.
Subpackage in java
Package inside the package is called the subpackage.
It should be created to categorize the package further.
Example
Sun Microsystem has defined a package named java
that contains many classes like System, String, Reader, Writer,
Socket etc.
These classes represent a particular group
e.g. Reader and Writer classes are for Input/Output operation, Socket and
ServerSocket classes are for networking.
Sun has subcategorized the java package into subpackages such as lang,
net, io etc. and put the Input/Output related classes in io package, Server
and ServerSocket classes in net packages.
Example of Subpackage
package com.javatpoint.core;
class Simple
{
public static void main(String args[ ])
{
System.out.println("Hello subpackage");
}
}
To Compile: javac -d . Simple.java
To Run: java com.javatpoint.core.Simple
Output:Hello subpackage
