The answer to 'unloading classes in java' says -
"The only way that a Class can be unloaded is if the Classloader used is garbage collected." I took a look at the JLS but couldn't understand it
Why is this the case?
+8
A:
A class is only unloaded when it is garbage collected, and for that to happen there must be no references to it anywhere. And the classloader keeps a reference to each class it loads.
invariant
2010-03-31 08:06:38
Thanks. Couldn't be clearer than that (+:
Everyone
2010-03-31 08:19:16
And why does it keep a reference?
Mnementh
2010-03-31 08:20:30
@Mnementh - Is it for reinstantiation if so desired?
Everyone
2010-03-31 08:49:22
It keeps a ref to it so if it is asked to load it again it can just return the same one. Otherwise you would have multiple instances of the same class object being loaded with different refs to them floating around.
invariant
2010-03-31 08:57:14