Java Training Program
Java – Packages
By
Madhumeeta Bhatia
Contents
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 2
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Packages
3. Package Categories
4. Java Built-In Package
5. Java UserDefined Package
6. What is Classpath
7. Summary
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 3
Introduction
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 4
Introduction
The main feature of OOP is its ability to support
the reuse of code:
Extending the classes (via inheritance)
Extending interfaces
The features in basic form limited to reusing the
classes within a program.
What if we need to use classes from other
programs without physically copying them into the
program under development ?
In Java, this is achieved by using what is known
as “packages”, a concept similar to “class
libraries” in other languages.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 5
Java Packages
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 6
Packages
Packages are Java’s way of grouping a number of
related classes and/or interfaces together into a
single unit. That means, packages act as
“containers” for classes.
It provides is used to organize classes that belong
to the same files or providing similar functionality.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 7
Features of a Java package
The protected members of the classes can be
accessed by each other in the same package.
It resolves the naming collision for the types it
contains.
A package may have the following types.
Interfaces
Classes
Enumerated types
Annotations
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 8
Package - Benefits
The classes contained in the packages of other
programs/applications can be reused.
In packages classes can be unique compared
with classes in other packages. That two classes
in two different packages can have the same
name. If there is a naming clash, then classes can
be accessed with their fully qualified name.
Classes in packages can be hidden if we don’t
want other packages to access them.
Packages also provide a way for separating
“design” from coding.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 9
Package – Naming Convention
Package names are written in all lowercase to
avoid conflict with the names of classes or
interfaces.
The directory name must be same as the name of
package that is created using "package" keyword
in the source file.
Before running a program, the class path must be
picked up till the main directory (or package) that
is used in the program.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 10
Package – Naming Convention
If we are not including any package in our java
source file then the source file automatically goes
to the default package.
In general, we start a package name begins with
the order from top to bottom level.
In case of the internet domain, the name of the
domain is treated in reverse (prefix) order.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 11
Java Package Names and Directory Structure
Java Packages are defined by hierarchical
naming pattern.
Package name consists of words separated by
periods.
First Part – Main Directory Name
Remaining Part - Sub contents of the package (Sub
Packages and Classes)
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 12
Package categories in Java
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 13
Build-In Packages in Core Java
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 14
Java Built-in Packages
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 15
Java Built-in Packages
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 16
Java Built-in Packages
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 17
Creating Packages
Java supports a keyword called “package” for creating
user-defined packages.
The package statement must be the first statement in a
Java source file (except comments and white spaces)
followed by one or more classes.
Package name is
“myPackage” and classes are
considered as part of this
package; The code is saved in
a file called “ClassA.java” and
located in a directory called
“myPackage”.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 18
Package Example
Create a directory "mypackage" .
Save the source file as "HelloWorld.java" in the created directory.
Set the class path as set CLASSPATH = .;C:\;
Go to the "mypackage" directory and compile the program as
C:\mypackage>javac HelloWorld.java
Run the program.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 19
Accessing a Package
As indicated earlier, classes in packages can be
accessed using a fully qualified name or using a
short-cut as long as we import a corresponding
package.
The general form of importing package is:
import package1[.package2][…].classname
Example:
• import myPackage.ClassA;
• import myPackage.secondPackage
All classes/packages from higher-level package can be
imported as follows:
• import myPackage.*;
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 20
Accessing a Package
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 21
Steps – compile and Execute the packages
Compile the Package file
Javac –d HelloWorld.java
Set the Classpath (Current working Directory)
Set CLASSPATH=.;
Define a example to import the package
Compile and Execute the program in which the
package is imported.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 22
What is a Class Path
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 23
What is a class path?
It is a set of directories where Java class files are
located
Java runtime searches for class files in the
directories specified in the class path in the order
specified.
We need to set the classpath to point to that
directory so that when we try to run it, the JVM
will be able to see where our classes are stored.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 24
Protection and Packages
All classes (or interfaces) accessible to all others
in the same package.
Class declared public in one package is
accessible within another. Non-public class is not
Members of a class are accessible from a
difference class, as long as they are not private
protected members of a class in a package are
accessible to subclasses in a different class
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 25
Access Protection in Packages
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 26
Access to fields in Java at a Glance
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 27
Create Subpackages (A Package inside another
package)
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 28
Summary
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 29
Summary
Packages allow grouping of related classes into a
single united.
Packages are organised in hierarchical structure.
Packages handle name classing issues.
Packages can be accessed or inherited without
actual copy of code to each program.
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 30
Resource
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 31
Resource
http://www.roseindia.net/java/master-java/java-
package.shtml
Vijayalakshmi G M Java Packages 32
