Check if a class exists in the Java classpath without starting its static initializer?

Question

If i use

try { Class.forName("my.package.Foo"); // it exists on the classpath } catch(ClassNotFoundException e) { // it does not exist on the classpath } 

the initializer block "Foo" is started. Is there a way to determine if the class "my.package.Foo" is in the classpath without starting its static initializer?

Answer 1

Try the forName(String name, boolean initialize, ClassLoader loader) Class method and set the initialize parameter to false .

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