Difference Between path and classpath

Java is a general purpose high-level programming language. It is a popular programming language that is used to dev a lop variety of applications such as mobile, desktop and web. There are also Integrated Development Environments (IDE) designed to organize, run and debug Java applications. Without converting the complete Java program to machine understandable format, the java program is first converted into a byte code. Then the byte code is translated into machine code. In order to compile and run a Java program, the programmer should set the path and the classpath. Even these two terms appear similar, there is a difference. This article discusses the difference between path and classpath. The key difference between path and classpath is that, path is an environment variable that is used to refer the location of Java executable files while classpath is an environment variable that is used to refer the location of the class files.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is path
3. What is classpath
4. Similarities Between path and classpath
5. Side by Side Comparison – path vs classpath in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is path?

It is a variable that is helpful to compile and run Java programs. It is an environment variable. It is used to find tools such as Java, Java compiler, Java documentation (java doc), java header file generator (javah), Java disassembler (javap) and Java debugger (jdb). To compile and run the Java program it is necessary to have the Java compiler and the Java tools.  These are executable files.

When compiling the Java program, the operating system takes this environment variable as a reference to call the Java compiler.  Therefore, according the value in the environment variable, the operating system will invoke the Java compiler and the tools. Therefore, the programmer should set the path variable. After installing Java, there is a folder called Java in the C drive’s program files. Inside that folder, there is a folder called jdk. Inside jdk, there is a folder called bin. In the bin folder, there is java, java compiler(javac), java documentation(javadoc) and lots of other tools. Therefore, the operating system uses the path environment variable as a reference to find these tools.

What is classpath?

Java is a programming language provides a lot of inbuilt libraries and third-party libraries for the application. The programmer can use these libraries according to the developing application. In order to use these libraries in the application, the programmer should set the classpath. JVM refers to the Java Virtual Machine, which is an abstract machine to run java programs. JVM or the Java compiler uses this classpath as a reference to search the class files necessary for the application. The classpath tells the JVM or the compiler where to look in the file system to find the files defined in the classes.

What is the Similarity Between path and classpath?

• Both path and classpath are environment variables to compile and run Java programs properly.

What is the Difference Between path and classpath?

Summary – path vs classpath

When installing Java to the system, relevant files are installed into the system. The path and classpath are two variables used in Java programming to refer the locations of different files.  Even they look similar, they have a difference. This article discussed the difference between path and classpath. The difference between path and classpath is that path is an environment variable used to refer the location of Java executable files while classpath is an environment variable used to refer the location of the class files. Not setting the path and the classpath properly will affect the proper compiling and running of Java programs.

Reference:

1.“PATH and CLASSPATH.” PATH and CLASSPATH (The Java™ Tutorials > Essential Classes > The Platform Environment), Available here  

2.tutorialspoint.com. “Java Environment Setup.”  The Point, Available here