.class vs .java

Question

What's the difference between a .class file and a .java file? I am trying to get my applet to work but currently I can only run it in Eclipse, I can't yet embed in HTML. Thanks

**Edit: How to compile with JVM then?

Answer 1

• .class -> compiled (for JVM)
• .java -> source (for humans)

Answer 2

.java files are source files, while .class files are compiled (bytecode) classes.

Use javac (http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/windows/javac.html) to compile source into bytocode.

Answer 3

A .java file contains your Java source code while a .class file contains the Java bytecode produced by the Java compiler. It is your .class files that run on the JVM to execute a Java application.

It is the .class files you will use when you deploy your applet.

Answer 4

.java usually holds your code in clear text

.class contains the byte code of your .java. Think of it as a compiled version of the .java file

Answer 5

A .class file is a compiled .java file.

.java is all text and is human readable.
.class is binary (usually).

You compile a java file into a class file by going to the command line, navigating to the .java file, and running

javac "c:\the\path\to\your\file\yourFileName.java"

You must have a java SDK installed on your computer (get it from Sun), and make sure the javac.exe file is locatable in your computer's PATH environment variable.

Also, check out Java's Lesson 1: Compiling & Running a Simple Program

If any of this is unclear, please comment on this response and I can help out :)