Javap tool in Java with examples


The javap tool is a useful means of retrieving the information of a specific class or interface. Through its capabilities of disassembling, the javap command—also known as the Java Disassembler—has been given the roles of providing users with comprehensive internal info. From the two options, -c or -verbose, each giving unique results, users are able to find themselves in the realms of byte code and byte code orchestration. If no options are used, javap runs through the public, protected and package fields and methods of inputted classes.

Syntax

javap [option] [classname]

When no options are used

Example

javap class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java"
public class java.lang.Object {
   public java.lang.Object();
   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();
   public native int hashCode();
   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException; public java.lang.String toString();
   public final native void notify();
   public final native void notifyAll();
   public final native void wait (long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait(long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
   static {};
}

When options are used

Following is an explanation of each option and how to apply it −

  • -help or --help or -?

This is used to print the help message for the javap command.

Example

javap -help

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -help 
Usage: javap <options> <classes> 
where possible options include: 
-help --help -?      Print this usage message
-version             Version information
-V  -verbose         Print additional information
-1                   Print line number and local variable tables
-public              Show only public classes and members
-protected           Show protected/public classes and members
-package             Show package/protected/public classes and members (default)
-p -private          Show all classes and members
-C                   Disassemble the code
-S                   Print internal type signatures
-sysinfo             Show system info (path, size, date, MD5 hash) of class being processed
-constants           Show final constants
-classpath <path>    Specify where to find user class files
-cp <path>           Specify where to find user class files
-bootclasspath <path> Override location of bootstrap class files
  • -version

This is used to print Version information of Java.

Example

javap -version

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -version
1.8.0_151
  • -v or -verbose

This is used to print additional information like stack size, number of locals and arguments for methods.

Example

javap -v class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -v java.lang.Object
Classfile jar:file:/C:/Program%20Files/Java/jdk1.8.0_151/jre/lib/rt.jar! /java/lang/Object.class
Last modified Sep 5, 2017; size 1497 bytes
MD5 checksum 074ebc688a81170b8740f1158648a3c7 
Compiled from "Object.java"
public class java.lang.Object 
minor version: 0
major version: 52
flags: ACC_PUBLIC, ACC_SUPER
Constant pool:
#1 = Integer         999999
#2 - String          #16                //@
#3 = String          #38                //nanosecond timeout value out of range
#4 = String          #42               //timeout value is negative
#5 - Utf8            ()I
#6 = Utf8            ()Ljava/lang/Object;
#7 - Utf8            ()Ljava/lang/String;
#8 = Utf8            ()V
#9 - Utf8            (I)Ljava/lang/String;
#10 - Utf8           (J)V
#11 = Utf8           (JI)V
#12 - Utf8           (Ljava/lang/Object;)Z
#13 = Utf8           (Ljava/lang/String;)V
#14 - Utf8           <clinit>
#15 = Utf8           <init>
#16 - Utf8           @
#17 - Utf8           Code
#18 = Utf8           Exceptions
#19 - Utf8           Line Number Table
#20 = Utf8           Signature
#21- Utf8            Source File
#22 = Utf8           StackMapTable
#23 Utf8             Append
#24 Utf8             Clone
#25 = Utf8           Equals
#26 Utf8             finalize
#27 = Utf8           getClass
#28 Utf8             getName
#29 - Utf8           hashCode
#30 = Utf8           java/lang/Class
#31 - Utf8           java/lang/CloneNotSupportedException
#32 = Utf8           java/lang/IllegalArgumentException
#33 - Utf8           Java/lang/Integer
#34 Utf8             java/lang/InterruptedException
  • -l

This is used to print line numbers and local variables tables.

Example

javap -l class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -1 java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java” 
public class java.lang.Object { 
   public java.lang.Object();
   LineNumberTable:
   line 37: 0

   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();

   public native int hashCode();

   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   LineNumberTable:
   line 149: 0

   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException;

   public java.lang.String toString();
   LineNumberTable:
   line 236: 0

   public final native void notify();

   public final native void notifyAll();

   public final native void wait(long) throws Java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait(long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   LineNumberTable:
   line 447: 0
   line 448: 6 
   line 451: 16 
   line 452: 26 
   line 456: 36 
   line 457: 40 
   line 460: 44
   line 461: 49

   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   LineNumberTable:
   line 502:0
   line 503: 5
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
}
  • -public

This is used to print only public classes and members.

Example

javap -public class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -public java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java" 
public class java.lang.Object {
   public java.lang.Object();
   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();
   public native int hashCode();
   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   public java.lang.String toString();
   public final native void notify();
   public final native void notifyAll();
   public final native void wait (long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException; public final void wait (long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException; public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
}
  • -protected

This is used to print protected/public classes and members.

Example

javap -protected class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -protected java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java"
public class java.lang.Object {
   public java.lang.Object();
   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();
   public native int hashCode();
   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException; 
   public java.lang.String toString();
   public final native void notify();
   public final native void notifyAll();
   public final native void wait(long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait (long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
}
  • -package

This is used to print package/protected/public classes and members (default).

Example

javap -package class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -package java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java"
   public class java.lang.Object {
   public java.lang.Object();
   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();
   public native int hashCode();
   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException; 
   public java.lang.String toString();
   public final native void notify();
   public final native void notifyAll();
   public final native void wait (long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait (long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
   static {};
}
  • -c

This is used to print disassembled code.

Example

javap -c class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -c java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java"
public class java.lang.Object (public java.lang.Object();
Code:
0: return
public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();

public native int hashCode();

public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
Code:
0: aload e
1: aload_1
2: 1f_acmpne   9
5:iconst_1 
6: goto        10
9: iconst_0
10: ireturn

protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException;

public java.lang.String toString();
Code:
0: new             #52      //class java/lang/StringBuilder
3: dup
4: invokespecial   #74     //Method java/lang/StringBuilder."<init>": ()V
7: aload_e
8: invokevirtual   #73    // Method getClass: ()Ljava/lang/Class;
11: invokevirtual  #67    // Method java/lang/class.getName:()Ljava/lang/String;
14: invokevirtual  #76   // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append: (Ljava/lang/String;) Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
17: 1dc            #2    // String @
19: invokevirtual  #76   // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append: (Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
22: aload_e
23: invokevirtual  #78   // Method hashCode: ()I
26: invokestatic   #69   // Method java/lang/Integer.toHexString: (I) Ljava/lang/String;
29: invokevirtual  #76   // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append: (Ljava/lang/String;) Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
32: invokevirtual  #75   // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.toString: ()Ljava/lang/String;
35: areturn
public final native void notify();
  • -s

This is used to print internal type signatures.

Example

javap -s class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -s java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java" 
public class java.lang.Object { 
   public java.lang.Object(); 
   descriptor: ()V

   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass(); 
   descriptor: ()Ljava/lang/class;

   public native int hashCode();
   descriptor: ()I

   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   descriptor: (Ljava/lang/Object;)Z

   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException; 
   descriptor:()Ljava/lang/Object;

   public java.lang.String toString();
   descriptor: ()Ljava/lang/String;

   public final native void notify();
   descriptor: ()V

   public final native void notifyAll();
   descriptor: ()V

   public final native void wait(long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException; descriptor: (J)V

   public final void wait(long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException; descriptor: (JI)V

   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException; 
   descriptor: ()V
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
   descriptor: ()V
   static {}; 
   descriptor: ()V
}
  • -sysinfo

This is used to print system info (path, size, date, MD5 hash) of class being processed.

Example

javap -sysinfo class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -sysinfo java.lang.Object
Classfile jar:file:/C:/Program%20Files/Java/jdk1.8.0_151/jre/lib/rt.jar! /java/lang/Object.class 
Last modified Sep 5, 2017; size 1497 bytes
MD5 checksum 074ebc688a81170b8740f1158648a3c7 
Compiled from "Object.java"
public class java.lang.Object {
   public java.lang.Object();
   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();
   public native int hashCode();
   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException;
   public java.lang.String toString();
   public final native void notify();
   public final native void notifyAll();
   public final native void wait (long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait (long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
   static {};
}
  • -constants

This is used to print final constants of class.

Example

javap -constants class_name

Output

C:\Users\Aashi>javap -constants java.lang.Object 
Compiled from "Object.java"
public class java.lang.Object {

   public java.lang.Object();
   public final native java.lang.Class<?> getClass();
   public native int hashCode();
   public boolean equals(java.lang.Object);
   protected native java.lang.Object clone() throws java.lang.CloneNotSupportedException; 
   public java.lang.String toString();
   public final native void notify();
   public final native void notifyAll();
   public final native void wait (long) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait(long, int) throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   public final void wait() throws java.lang.InterruptedException;
   protected void finalize() throws java.lang.Throwable;
   static {}; 
}

Conclusion

The javap tool is a multifaceted and tremendously potent tool for Java coders, rendering them the capacity to diagnose and debug class documents, evaluate fields and methods, and generate legible code from a class document's bytecode. This indispensable tool is suitable for Java developers of all skill levels, affording them the capability to extend their knowledge and troubleshoot their Java programs without difficulty. An irreplaceable possession for any aspiring coder, the javap tool is sure to help quickly enhance their programming aptitude. Additionally, its wide range of features can assist coders in refining their practices, providing them a competitive edge when it comes to building Java applications.

Updated on: 01-Aug-2023

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