Confusion in Class.forName() :confused:

[Glenny Dsilva]

I have read that Class.forName() is to load the class dynamically.

And one of the places it is used is to load the Driver in jdbc.

for e.g.

Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver");

But instead of the above code can i just use

package com.mysql.jdbc.Driver;

Why do i need to use Class.forName() (i.e. load it dynamically);

Pls. explain

[Darryl Nortje]

--> I have read that Class.forName() is to load the class dynamically.
--> And one of the places it is used is to load the Driver in jdbc.
--> for e.g.
--> Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver");

Normally what you will do is have the driver in a properties file and then call Class.forName(myDriverProperty); That way by changing the value in the properties file you will be loading a different jdbc driver

--> But instead of the above code can i just use
--> package com.mysql.jdbc.Driver;

I think you mean import com.mysql.jdbc.Driver ??

so what do you do if you now want to use a postgres database driver.
You have to change and recompile your code to now import org.postgresql.Driver.

--> Why do i need to use Class.forName() (i.e. load it dynamically);
That's exactly why you need Class.forName(). To load the class dynamically. IE: No recompile necessary if you change databases.

cheers
Darryl

[KasiMurugan Ramasamy]

Hi guy,

import doesn't load the class until your first reference that class.