Difference between ClassNotFoundException and NoClassDefFoundError in java

ClassNotFoundException NoClassDefFoundError
1 ClassNotFoundException is Checked
(compile time) Exception in java. NoClassDefFoundError is a Error in java.
Error and its subclasses are regarded as
unchecked exceptions in java.

2 Here is the hierarchy of Here is the hierarchy of

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException - java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError -

-java.lang.Object -java.lang.Object
-java.lang.Throwable -java.lang.Throwable
-java.lang.Exception -java.lang.Error
-java.lang.ReflectiveOperationException -java.lang.LinkageError
-java.lang.ClassNotFoundException -java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError

3 ClassNotFoundException is thrown NoClassDefFoundError is thrown when JVM

when JVM tries to class from tries to load class which >
classpath but it does not find that was NOT available at runtime but
class. was available at compile time.

4 ClassNotFoundException is thrown These methods will never throw

whenever an java application tries to NoClassDefFoundError.
load a class by passing class name
as String in following methods -
 1. forName(String className)
method of java.lang.Class class.
2. findSystemClass(String name)
method of
java.lang.ClassLoader class.
3. loadClass(String name) method
of java.lang.ClassLoader class.

ExceptionInInitializerError You must ensure that class does not throws

has got nothing to do with java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError
ClassNotFoundException. because that is likely to be followed by
NoClassDefFoundError.

Similarity between ClassNotFoundException and NoClassDefFoundError in java

ClassNotFoundException NoClassDefFoundError
ClassNotFoundException is NoClassDefFoundError is thrown
thrown when JVM tries to class when JVM tries to load class but no
from classpath but it unable to find definition of class could be found.
that class.
Or, you can simply say class was Or, you can simply say class
unavailable in classpath at was unavailable in classpath at
runtime. runtime.
Example/Programs/Scenarios where ClassNotFoundException
may be thrown in java>
1. Loadingclasses via Reflection in java > ClassNotFoundException is thrown whenever an application tries to
load a class by passing class name as String in forName(String className) method of Class class.
Example -
package ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg;

/** Copyright (c), AnkitMittal JavaMadeSoEasy.com */

public class ClassNotFoundExceptionExample {
public static void main(String... a) {

System.out.println("initialize 'ReflectionClass' at runtime");

// initialize 'ReflectionClass' at runtime

Class cls = null;
try {
cls = Class.forName("ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg.ReflectionClass");
} catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}

/*OUTPUT

initialize 'ReflectionClass' at runtime

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: ReflectionClass
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Class.forName0(Native Method)
at java.lang.Class.forName(Unknown Source)
at
ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg.ClassNotFoundExceptionExample.main(ClassNotFoundExceptionExample.java:12)

*/
 Solution - Make class available in package ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg and call
forName(String className) method of java.lang.Class class.
Example -
package ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg;

class ReflectionClass {
static{
System.out.println("ReflectionClass has been initialized");
}
}
/**
* Copyright (c), AnkitMittal JavaMadeSoEasy.com
* Main class
*/
public class ClassNotFoundExceptionAvoidExample {
public static void main(String... a) {

System.out.println("initialize 'ReflectionClass' at runtime");

// initialize 'ReflectionClass' at runtime
Class cls = null;
try {
cls = Class.forName("ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg.ReflectionClass");
} catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}

/*OUTPUT

initialize 'ReflectionClass' at runtime

ReflectionClass has been initialized

*/

2. ClassNotFoundException can be thrown when java application tries to load/initialize

oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver class by passing class name as String in
 Class.forName("oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver") method of Class class but OracleDriver class is not
present in classpath.
Example -
package ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg2;
/** Copyright (c), AnkitMittal JavaMadeSoEasy.com */
public class MyJdbcConnectionSetup {
public static void main(String... arg) {
System.out.println("register Oracle driver class, i.e. initialize OracleDriver");
try {
// register Oracle driver class, i.e. initialize OracleDriver
Class.forName("oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver");
System.out.println("Oracle driver class registered, i.e. initialized OracleDriver");
} catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}

/*OUTPUT

register Oracle driver class, i.e. initialize OracleDriver

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Class.forName0(Native Method)
at java.lang.Class.forName(Unknown Source)
at
ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg2.MyJdbcConnectionSetup.main(MyJdbcConnectionSetup.java:8)

*/

Solution - Make OracleDriver class available in classpath. Read how to configure java build path - registering
driver

Example -
package ClassNotFoundExceptionExamplePkg2;
/** Copyright (c), AnkitMittal JavaMadeSoEasy.com */
public class MyJdbcConnectionSetup {
public static void main(String... arg) {
 System.out.println("register Oracle driver class, i.e. initialize
OracleDriver");
try {
// register Oracle driver class, i.e. initialize OracleDriver
Class.forName("oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver");
System.out.println("Oracle driver class registered, i.e. initialized OracleDriver");
} catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}

/*OUTPUT

register Oracle driver class, i.e. initialize OracleDriver

Oracle driver class registered, i.e. initialized OracleDriver

*/

Example/Programs/Scenarios where NoClassDefFoundError may

be thrown in java>

1. We will create very simple program which will throw NoClassDefFoundError .

NoClassDefFoundError is thrown when JVM tries to load class but no definition of class could be found.

First let’s write java class >

public class NoClassDefFoundErrorExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new A(); // It can throw java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError
}
}

class A {
 }

Let’s say above code in file = E:\workspace\NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java

Go to CMD and type below commands >

C:\Users\ankitmittal01>e:

E:\>cd E:\workspace

E:\workspace>javac NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java

E:\workspace>

As soon as javac NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java is called two .class files are formed.

Directory of .class files = E:\workspace\NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.class and

E:\workspace\A.class

Now, when above program can throw NoClassDefFoundError?

Now, delete E:\workspace\A.class

Let’s say you have deleted A.class. Now, let's execute the program again >
E:\workspace>java NoClassDefFoundErrorExample
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: : A
at NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.main(NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java:3)
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: A
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
 ... 1 more

E:\workspace>

As we see NoClassDefFoundError was thrown when JVM tries to load A.class which >
was NOT available at runtime but
was available at compile time.

2. If any RuntimeException occurs in >

static initialization block of class or
during initialing of the static variables
then NoClassDefFoundError may be thrown.

We will create another simple program to understand how RuntimeException occured in static block of
class can throw NoClassDefFoundError.

First let’s write java class >

package noClassDefFoundErrorPkg;

public class NoClassDefFoundErrorExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {
try {
new A(); // It will throw java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError
} catch (Error error) {
error.printStackTrace();
}

System.out.println("\n--------------\n");

try {
new A(); // It will throw java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError
} catch (Error error) {
error.printStackTrace();
 }

class A {

static {
System.out.println("In static block of class A");
System.out.println(1 / 0); // It will throw
java.lang.ArithmeticException
}

/*
* Constructor of class A will never get executed
*/
A() {
System.out.println("In constructor of class A");
}
}

Output of above program >

In static block of class A
java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError
at
noClassDefFoundErrorPkg.NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.main(NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java:6)
Caused by: java.lang.ArithmeticException: / by zero
at noClassDefFoundErrorPkg.A.<clinit>(NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java:27)
... 1 more

--------------

java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Could not initialize class

noClassDefFoundErrorPkg.A
at
noClassDefFoundErrorPkg.NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.main(NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java:14)

In the above program, first new A() at line 6 throwed ExceptionInInitializerError because
ArithmeticException occurred in initializing the class (i.e. in static block of class) then,
new A() at line 14 throwed NoClassDefFoundError because class initialization has already thrown error.
 You must read ArithmeticException is an unchecked exception and it is propagated automatically in java.

3. We will create another program which uses commons-lang.jar and will throw NoClassDefFoundError .
NoClassDefFoundError is thrown when JVM tries to load class but no definition of class could be found.

First let’s write java class >

import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;

public class NoClassDefFoundErrorExample {

public static void main(String... arg) {
System.out.println(StringUtils.class + " loaded");
System.out.println(StringUtils.isNotEmpty("java")); //true

}
}

Let’s say above code in file = E:\workspace\NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java

Go to CMD and type below commands >

Set required jar (commons-lang.jar) in classpath

and then execute javac command.
C:\Users\ankitmittal01>e:

E:\>cd E:\workspace

E:\workspace>set CLASSPATH=.;E:\java jars\commons\commons-lang.jar

E:\workspace>javac NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java

E:\workspace>
As soon as javac NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java is called .class file is formed.

Directory of .class file = E:\workspace\NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.class

Now, when above program can throw NoClassDefFoundError?

Now, either unset the the classpath by using command >
set CLASSPATH=
Or,
Delete or move E:\java jars\commons\commons-lang.jar

Let’s say you have unset the classpath. Now, let's execute the program again >
E:\workspace>set CLASSPATH=

E:\workspace>java NoClassDefFoundErrorExample
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError:
org/apache/commons/lang/StringUtils
at NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.main(NoClassDefFoundErrorExample.java:5)
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
... 1 more

E:\workspace>

As we see NoClassDefFoundError was thrown when JVM tries to load

org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils class which >
was NOT available at runtime but
was available at compile time.
Note : Jar used in above program = commons-lang.jar