Reputation: 1378

Meaning of the import statement in a Java file

Can any one clearly explain to me what exactly happens when we use the import statement in Java files? Does it increase the size of the file if we add more and more java classes? Why don't we use class loader for the same? And what are the restrictions for importing?

Upvotes: 22

Answers (5)

user1493113

Reputation:

The import statement in Java allows to refer to classes which are declared in other packages to be accessed without referring to the full package name. You do not need any import statement if you are willing to always refer to java.util.List by its full name, and so on for all other classes. But if you want to refer to it as List, you need to import it, so that the compiler knows which List you are referring to.

Classes from the java.lang package are automatically imported, so you do not need to explicitly do this, to refer to String, for example.

Upvotes: 0

polygenelubricants

Reputation: 383746

import declarations (not statements) are essentially short-hand enabler at the source code level: it allows you to refer to a type or a static member using a single identifier (e.g. List, min) as opposed to the fully qualified name (e.g. java.util.List, Math.min).

import declaration section is a compile-time element of the source codes, and has no presence at run-time. In JVM bytecodes, type names are always fully qualified, and unless you're using a poorly written compiler, the binary should only contain names for types that are actually being used.

Class loaders are used for an entirely different concept, and has nothing to do with import feature at all.

JLS 7.5 Import Declarations

An import declaration allows a static member or a named type to be referred to by a simple name that consists of a single identifier. Without the use of an appropriate import declaration, the only way to refer to a type declared in another package, or a static member of another type, is to use a fully qualified name.

A single-type-import declaration imports a single named type, by mentioning its canonical name.

A type-import-on-demand declaration imports all the accessible types of a named type or package as needed. It is a compile time error to import a type from the unnamed package.

A single static import declaration imports all accessible static members with a given name from a type, by giving its canonical name.

A static-import-on-demand declaration imports all accessible static members of a named type as needed.

References

Various `import` related questions

On the grammatical role of import:

What is an import called? - it's a declaration, not a statement

On on-demand vs single-type:

On import static:

Performance-related issues:

Upvotes: 49

Zak

Reputation: 7078

Packages consist of classes, classes in a package consist of methods, variables etc etc. A class has a full name which comprises of the package name and the class name. If you need to use a class in your code,you need to give the compiler the full name of the class.So, you use an import statement OR you can type the fully qualified name every place you use that class in your code.

For example, if you need an AraryList in your code, you use the import statement import java.util.ArrayList; instead of typing the fully qualified class name every place you need an Arraylist.

For more detailed info, see JLS.

Upvotes: 5

Hardcoded

Reputation: 6494

The imports in java are only hints for the compiler. It doesn't affect the size of the binary class file at all. You can either use an imports once or write the full name of the Class every time you use it.

Imports are just a concession to readability and the laziness of the developer.

Upvotes: 4

Anemoia

Reputation: 8116

import statements say to the compiler: if you have a function that cannot be found in this class look in the list of imports.

This way you can refer to functions in other packages without having to copy the definition (like C(++) .h files) to your own package.

Upvotes: 3

Meaning of the import statement in a Java file