Class loaders
Class loaders are an integral part of the JVM code and are responsible for finding and loading class files both for the application server itself and applications. It is important that an administrator understands class loaders and how they affect the JVM and deployed applications. Application developers and deployers must understand and consider the location of Java classes and Java resource files, and the class loaders used to access those files, must also be able to make available the appropriate class files to deployed applications. The configuration of class loaders also affects the packaging of applications and their runtime behavior. In this book, we cannot completely cover all the issue and intricacies of class loaders; however, we will attempt to explain class loading and what configuration elements an administrator can use in the administrative console to change class loading behavior.
Class loading basics
A simple and easy way to understand class loaders is to use...
