Java Packages

A Java package is a mechanism for organizing Java classes. Package are used in Java, in-order to avoid name conflicts and to control access of class, interface and enumeration etc.

A package can be defined as a group of similar types of classes, interface, enumeration and sub-packages.

We can define package using package keyword.

Package are categorized into two forms

• Built-in Package:- Existing Java package for example java.lang, java.util etc.
• User-defined-package:- Java package created by user to categorized classes and interface

Creating a package

Creating a package in java is quite easy. Simply include a package command followed by name of the package as the first statement in java source file.

There can be only one package statement in each source file.

If package statement not used in source file than it takes default package for all classes, interfaces and enumeration.

package firstpack;
public class Test{
    public static void main(String args[]){
      System.out.println("Testing package");
    }
}

To run this program:

• Create firstpack folder in your currently development working directory.
• Compile the source file.
• Put the class file into the directory you have created.
• Execute the program from development directory.

Package is a way to organize files in Java, it is used when project consist multiple modules. Package's access level also allows you to protect data from being used by the non-authorized classes.

import keyword

import keyword is used to import built-in and user defined packages into your java source files. If a class wants to use another class in the same package, the package name does not need to be used. Classes in to the same package use without any import statement.

Import statement is kept after package statement.

• package firstpackage;
• import java.util.Date;

There are three ways to refer that is present in different package.

1) Using fully qualified name

Example

class Test extends java.util.Date{

 //statements
}

2) import the class you want to use :

Example

import java.util.Date;

class Test extends Date{
  //statements
}

3) import all the classes from the particular package:

Example

import java.util.*;

class Test extends Date{
  //statements
}

Static import

static import is a feature that expands the capabilities of import keyword.

It is used to import static member of a class. We all know that static member are referred in association with its class name outside the class. Using static import, it is possible to refer to the static member directly without its class name.

There are two general form of static import statement.

• The first form of static import statement, import only a single static member of a class

Syntax

import static package.class-name.static-member-name;

Example

import static java.lang.Math.sqrt;  //importing static method sqrt of Math class

• The second form of static import statement,imports all the static member of a class

Syntax

import static package.class-type-name.*;

Example

import static java.lang.Math.*;	  //importing all static member of Math class

Example without using static import

public class Test
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println(Math.sqrt(144));
    }
}

Output

12

Example using static import

import static java.lang.Math.*;
public class Test
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println(sqrt(144));
    }
}

Output

12

Share this article on