JDK-8233272 : The Class.forName specification should be updated to match the long-standing implementation with respect to class linking
  • Type: Bug
  • Component: core-libs
  • Sub-Component: java.lang:class_loading
  • Priority: P3
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Fixed
  • Submitted: 2019-10-30
  • Updated: 2024-05-17
  • Resolved: 2019-11-19
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JDK 14
14 b24Fixed
Related Reports
CSR :  
JDK-8233554 - The Class.forName specification should be updated to match the long-standing implementation with respect to class linking
Duplicate :  
JDK-8181144 - JDI - VirtualMachine.allClasses() does not return loaded but uninitialized class
Relates :  
JDK-8212117 - Class.forName may return a reference to a loaded but not linked Class
Relates :  
JDK-8267525 - add test for non-linked classes are not returned by VirtualMachine.allClasses
Relates :  
JDK-8233091 - Backout JDK-8212117: Class.forName loads a class but not linked if class is not initialized
Description
The Class.forName(String,boolean,ClassLoader) and Class.forName(Module, String) methods have always stated that they attempt "to locate, load, and link the class or interface."  

However the long-standing implementation has not performed the linking step  (except when the 'initialize' boolean argument is 'true').

An attempt was made to bring the spec and implementation in line by always performing the prescribed linking (JDK-8212117), but this proved to be too disruptive a change (JDK-8233091).

Instead, the documentation for these methods should be updated to no longer state that linking will be performed.
Comments
URL: https://hg.openjdk.java.net/jdk/jdk/rev/faac483dfb30 User: bchristi Date: 2019-11-19 18:03:12 +0000
19-11-2019