Java Package

• A java package is a group of similar types of classes, interfaces and

sub-packages.
• Package in java can be categorized in two form, built-in package and
user-defined package.

• There are many built-in packages such as java, lang, awt, javax,
swing, net, io, util, sql etc.
Java Package
• Here, we will have the detailed learning of creating and using user-
defined packages.
Advantage of Java Package

• 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.

 Concept
Packages are nothing more than the way we organize files
into different directories according to their functionality,
usability as well as category they should belong to .
A Java package is a Java programming language
mechanism for organizing classes into namespaces.
Java source files belonging to the same category or
providing similar functionality can include a package
statement at the top of the file to designate the package for
the classes the source file defines.

Java packages can be stored in compressed files called

JAR files.
 Concept

Packaging also help us to avoid class name collision when

we use the same class name as that of others.

For example, if we have a class name called "Vector", its

name would crash with the Vector class from JDK.
However, this never happens because JDK uses java.util
as a package name for the Vector class (java.util.Vector ).

Understanding the concept of a package will also help us

manage and use files stored in jar files in more efficient
ways.
 Concept

JAVA PACKAGE

JAVA API USER DEFINED

PACKAGE PACKAGE

lang util io awt applet

 Using Packages
• To use a package inside a Java source file, it is convenient
to import the classes from the package with an import
statement.

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.Colour;

• The above first statement imports all classes from the

java.awt package and second will import only Colour
class.
 Package Naming Conventions
Packages are usually defined using a hierarchical naming pattern,
with levels in the hierarchy separated by periods (.) .
Although packages lower in the naming hierarchy are often
referred to a "subpackages" of the corresponding packages
higher in the hierarchy, there is no semantic relationship between
packages.
Package names should be all lowercase characters whenever
possible.
Frequently a package name begins with the top level domain
name of the organization and then the organization's domain and
then any subdomains listed in reverse order.
The organization can then choose a specific name for their package.
Simple example of java package

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");
}
}
How to compile java package
If you are not using any IDE, you need to follow the syntax given below:
javac -d directory javafilename
For example javac -d . Simple.java
Simple example of java package

• 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).
How to run java package program
You need to use fully qualified name e.g. mypack.Simple etc to run the class.
To Compile: javac -d . Simple.java
To Run: java mypack.Simple
Output:Welcome to package
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.
 Creating a Package
package firstpack; 1. Declare the pkg. at the beginning of the file.

2. Save the file with the same name as the class name.
public class Firstclass
{ 3. Save it in the directory having same name as the package
name and that directory should be the subdirectory of the
directory where all the source files are saved.
}
4. Compile the file. It will create .class file in the
class Secondclass subdirectory.
{
Java also support the concept of pkg. hierarchy.
Package p1.p2.p3;
}
It should be saved in directory p1/p2/p3.

class Thirdclass
{ Java pkg. file have more than one class definition. But only
one class will be declared as public. Compilation will leads to
independent .class files corresponding to each class.
}
Using user defined Package
package p1; import p1.ClassA;

class Pkgtest
public class ClassA
{
{
public static void main(String[] args)
public void displayA() {
{ ClassA ob = new ClassA();
ob.displayA();
System.out.println(“Class A”);
}
}
}
}
How 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.
1) Using packagename.*

1) 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 B.java
package pack; package mypack;
public class A{ import pack.*;
public void msg() class B{
{System.out.println("Hello");} public static void main(String args[]){
} A obj = new A();
//save by A.java obj.msg();
}
}
Output:Hello
2.Using packagename.classname
2) Using packagename.classname //save by B.java
If you import package.classname then package mypack;
only declared class of this package will import pack.A;
be accessible.
class B{
//save by A.java
public static void main(String args[]){
A obj = new A();
package pack;
obj.msg();
public class A{
}
public void msg()
}
{System.out.println("Hello");}
Output:Hello
}
3.Using fully qualified name
3 Using fully qualified name //save by A.java
• If you use fully qualified name then only
declared class of this package will be package pack;
accessible. Now there is no need to import.
But you need to use fully qualified name every public class A{
time when you are accessing the class or public void
interface.
msg(){System.out.println("Hello")
;}
}
Example of package by import fully qualified

//save by B.java • Output:Hello

package mypack;
class B{
public static void main(String args[]){
pack.A obj = new pack.A();//using fully
qualified name
obj.msg();
}
}
Access Modifiers in Java
• Access modifiers helps to
restrict the scope of a
class, constructor, variabl
e, method, or data
member. It
provides security,
accessibility, etc. to the
user depending upon the
access modifier used with
the element
Comparison Table of Access
Modifiers