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Does every program in Java require a class?

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8

3

Every Java program requires the
presence of at least one class.

Is the above statement always true ?

java

share|improve this question

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Always true, for core and enterprise Java and every other kind as well.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:30
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You need Object and String to load before you can load an empty mian(String[]) method, that makes three ;)
  
  – Peter Lawrey
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:07
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Peter: It's somewhere around 200 classes from the java.* package; see my updated answer.
  
  – Sanjay T. Sharma
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

8

3

Every Java program requires the
presence of at least one class.

Is the above statement always true ?

java

share|improve this question

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Always true, for core and enterprise Java and every other kind as well.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:30
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You need Object and String to load before you can load an empty mian(String[]) method, that makes three ;)
  
  – Peter Lawrey
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:07
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Peter: It's somewhere around 200 classes from the java.* package; see my updated answer.
  
  – Sanjay T. Sharma
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Every Java program requires the
presence of at least one class.

Is the above statement always true ?

java

share|improve this question

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

share|improve this question

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

share|improve this question

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

edited Nov 4 '17 at 10:35

Ani Menon

16.7k106187

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

asked Mar 5 '11 at 14:27

TonyTony

55751326

6 Answers
6

active

oldest

votes

21

Yes, you need at least one class to have a program, but no, you do not need any methods (contrary to some other answers).

The reason you need a class is because in Java, all code is inside classes. So to have any code, you need a class. However, code doesn't necessarily need to be in a method. It can also be in initializers. So, here is a complete Java program with no methods:

class LookMaNoMethods 
 static 
 System.out.println("Hello, world!");
 System.exit(0);
 

And that gives...

$ javac LookMaNoMethods.java 
$ java LookMaNoMethods 
Hello, world!
$ 

EDIT : From Java 7 the above code with just static block and no main method does not produce any output. Main method is now compulsory. The code with no main method compiles successfully though.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Interesting. A class with a static initializer is a valid program, even though there is no main method, which is then again required if there is no static initializer. I wonder what the standard says exactly about the requirement for an entry point.
  
  – Matti Virkkunen
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:53
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The static-block is implemented as special kind of method internally ("<cinit>"). At least AFAIK. But still a good answer, I never was aware that you could start a method without a main(), too... Nice to know.
  
  – Boris
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:05
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This program works only because the static initializer invokes System.exit() before the error message about a missing main method can be shown.
  
  – Paŭlo Ebermann
  Mar 5 '11 at 17:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Paŭlo Ebermann, yes, that's correct, but it is still orderly, not a race. The class is obviously loaded before any attempt to invoke main.
  
  – rlibby
  Mar 5 '11 at 21:43
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

8

From the JVM's point of view; yes. From a programmers view point, it can be a Class or an Enum.

public enum AAA 

 AAA;

 public static void main(final String[] args) 
 System.out.println("H");
 

EDIT: Even if you have a class with empty main method, there are a lot of core classes which work behind the scene to just run the "empty" class of yours. A list of those classes (around 200 from the java.* package) can be viewed by setting the -verbose:class JVM parameter.

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 5 '11 at 15:20

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Java enums are weird.
  
  – Matti Virkkunen
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:39
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  But an Enum is a class: download.oracle.com/javase/1.5.0/docs/api/java/lang/Enum.html. The new keyword is syntactic sugar that hides the class keyword.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:45
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

A program requires an entry point. An entry point has to be a method. In Java, every method must be contained in a class.

That would imply that every program must have a at least one class.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This is a very reasonable answer, but "an entry point has to be a method" is not completely true. See my answer for an entry point that is not a method.
  
  – rlibby
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:48
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

Yes. In Java you always need one class with the function main to have the JRE run it.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This isn’t the reason. Ruby too is object oriented but it doesn’t need any class. The reason is just “because”.
  
  – Konrad Rudolph
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:29
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hmm I agree the implication is not true. How about 'sun wants it so?'/.
  
  – Konerak
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:30
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Groovy (obviously built on top of JVM) does not require any classes to run. But the generated bytecode defines classes behind the scenes.
  
  – Tomasz Nurkiewicz
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:33
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Konrad - the statement wasn't that all object-oriented languages require a class, only Java. And other languages that have functions as first-class objects, unlike Java, might appear to allow functions as entry points, but they're still classes underneath.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @duffymo Well, it was before @Konerak changed the answer. The current answer is correct.
  
  – Konrad Rudolph
  Mar 5 '11 at 22:00
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

yes , you need minimum one class.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

add a comment | 

-1

JAVA required at least one class in a program because at the time of execution of Java programs we needed to provide the name of a class which contains the main () method.

so, it is compulsory to provide at least one class name to Java programs.
ex--->`

class Test 
 
public static void main(String [] args)
 
System.out.println("Hello World");

so, javac _____ ("Here we have to give the name of java program in which we save")

java ______ ("Provide the name of a class which contain the main() method")

----->
according to our program

javac Hello (here I save the program name by Hello.java)

java Test (because Test class contains main() method)

Thank You

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 24 at 17:18

answered Mar 24 at 17:00

JATIN BEHUNEJATIN BEHUNE

12

add a comment | 

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21

Yes, you need at least one class to have a program, but no, you do not need any methods (contrary to some other answers).

The reason you need a class is because in Java, all code is inside classes. So to have any code, you need a class. However, code doesn't necessarily need to be in a method. It can also be in initializers. So, here is a complete Java program with no methods:

class LookMaNoMethods 
 static 
 System.out.println("Hello, world!");
 System.exit(0);
 

And that gives...

$ javac LookMaNoMethods.java 
$ java LookMaNoMethods 
Hello, world!
$ 

EDIT : From Java 7 the above code with just static block and no main method does not produce any output. Main method is now compulsory. The code with no main method compiles successfully though.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Interesting. A class with a static initializer is a valid program, even though there is no main method, which is then again required if there is no static initializer. I wonder what the standard says exactly about the requirement for an entry point.
  
  – Matti Virkkunen
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:53
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The static-block is implemented as special kind of method internally ("<cinit>"). At least AFAIK. But still a good answer, I never was aware that you could start a method without a main(), too... Nice to know.
  
  – Boris
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:05
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This program works only because the static initializer invokes System.exit() before the error message about a missing main method can be shown.
  
  – Paŭlo Ebermann
  Mar 5 '11 at 17:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Paŭlo Ebermann, yes, that's correct, but it is still orderly, not a race. The class is obviously loaded before any attempt to invoke main.
  
  – rlibby
  Mar 5 '11 at 21:43
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

21

Yes, you need at least one class to have a program, but no, you do not need any methods (contrary to some other answers).

The reason you need a class is because in Java, all code is inside classes. So to have any code, you need a class. However, code doesn't necessarily need to be in a method. It can also be in initializers. So, here is a complete Java program with no methods:

class LookMaNoMethods 
 static 
 System.out.println("Hello, world!");
 System.exit(0);
 

And that gives...

$ javac LookMaNoMethods.java 
$ java LookMaNoMethods 
Hello, world!
$ 

EDIT : From Java 7 the above code with just static block and no main method does not produce any output. Main method is now compulsory. The code with no main method compiles successfully though.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Interesting. A class with a static initializer is a valid program, even though there is no main method, which is then again required if there is no static initializer. I wonder what the standard says exactly about the requirement for an entry point.
  
  – Matti Virkkunen
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:53
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The static-block is implemented as special kind of method internally ("<cinit>"). At least AFAIK. But still a good answer, I never was aware that you could start a method without a main(), too... Nice to know.
  
  – Boris
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:05
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This program works only because the static initializer invokes System.exit() before the error message about a missing main method can be shown.
  
  – Paŭlo Ebermann
  Mar 5 '11 at 17:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Paŭlo Ebermann, yes, that's correct, but it is still orderly, not a race. The class is obviously loaded before any attempt to invoke main.
  
  – rlibby
  Mar 5 '11 at 21:43
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Yes, you need at least one class to have a program, but no, you do not need any methods (contrary to some other answers).

The reason you need a class is because in Java, all code is inside classes. So to have any code, you need a class. However, code doesn't necessarily need to be in a method. It can also be in initializers. So, here is a complete Java program with no methods:

class LookMaNoMethods 
 static 
 System.out.println("Hello, world!");
 System.exit(0);
 

And that gives...

$ javac LookMaNoMethods.java 
$ java LookMaNoMethods 
Hello, world!
$ 

EDIT : From Java 7 the above code with just static block and no main method does not produce any output. Main method is now compulsory. The code with no main method compiles successfully though.

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

class LookMaNoMethods 
 static 
 System.out.println("Hello, world!");
 System.exit(0);
 

$ javac LookMaNoMethods.java 
$ java LookMaNoMethods 
Hello, world!
$ 

share|improve this answer

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

edited Feb 23 '16 at 12:15

Nirmit Srivastava

563623

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:41

rlibbyrlibby

5,4081524

8

From the JVM's point of view; yes. From a programmers view point, it can be a Class or an Enum.

public enum AAA 

 AAA;

 public static void main(final String[] args) 
 System.out.println("H");
 

EDIT: Even if you have a class with empty main method, there are a lot of core classes which work behind the scene to just run the "empty" class of yours. A list of those classes (around 200 from the java.* package) can be viewed by setting the -verbose:class JVM parameter.

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 5 '11 at 15:20

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Java enums are weird.
  
  – Matti Virkkunen
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:39
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  But an Enum is a class: download.oracle.com/javase/1.5.0/docs/api/java/lang/Enum.html. The new keyword is syntactic sugar that hides the class keyword.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:45
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

8

From the JVM's point of view; yes. From a programmers view point, it can be a Class or an Enum.

public enum AAA 

 AAA;

 public static void main(final String[] args) 
 System.out.println("H");
 

EDIT: Even if you have a class with empty main method, there are a lot of core classes which work behind the scene to just run the "empty" class of yours. A list of those classes (around 200 from the java.* package) can be viewed by setting the -verbose:class JVM parameter.

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 5 '11 at 15:20

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Java enums are weird.
  
  – Matti Virkkunen
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:39
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  But an Enum is a class: download.oracle.com/javase/1.5.0/docs/api/java/lang/Enum.html. The new keyword is syntactic sugar that hides the class keyword.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:45
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

From the JVM's point of view; yes. From a programmers view point, it can be a Class or an Enum.

public enum AAA 

 AAA;

 public static void main(final String[] args) 
 System.out.println("H");
 

EDIT: Even if you have a class with empty main method, there are a lot of core classes which work behind the scene to just run the "empty" class of yours. A list of those classes (around 200 from the java.* package) can be viewed by setting the -verbose:class JVM parameter.

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 5 '11 at 15:20

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

public enum AAA 

 AAA;

 public static void main(final String[] args) 
 System.out.println("H");
 

share|improve this answer

edited Mar 5 '11 at 15:20

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:35

Sanjay T. SharmaSanjay T. Sharma

19.9k34765

7

A program requires an entry point. An entry point has to be a method. In Java, every method must be contained in a class.

That would imply that every program must have a at least one class.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This is a very reasonable answer, but "an entry point has to be a method" is not completely true. See my answer for an entry point that is not a method.
  
  – rlibby
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:48
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

A program requires an entry point. An entry point has to be a method. In Java, every method must be contained in a class.

That would imply that every program must have a at least one class.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This is a very reasonable answer, but "an entry point has to be a method" is not completely true. See my answer for an entry point that is not a method.
  
  – rlibby
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:48
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

A program requires an entry point. An entry point has to be a method. In Java, every method must be contained in a class.

That would imply that every program must have a at least one class.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:29

Matti VirkkunenMatti Virkkunen

53.1k6100138

3

Yes. In Java you always need one class with the function main to have the JRE run it.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This isn’t the reason. Ruby too is object oriented but it doesn’t need any class. The reason is just “because”.
  
  – Konrad Rudolph
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:29
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hmm I agree the implication is not true. How about 'sun wants it so?'/.
  
  – Konerak
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:30
  

  
  
  
  


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  Groovy (obviously built on top of JVM) does not require any classes to run. But the generated bytecode defines classes behind the scenes.
  
  – Tomasz Nurkiewicz
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:33
  

  
  
  
  


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  @Konrad - the statement wasn't that all object-oriented languages require a class, only Java. And other languages that have functions as first-class objects, unlike Java, might appear to allow functions as entry points, but they're still classes underneath.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:46
  

  
  
  
  


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  @duffymo Well, it was before @Konerak changed the answer. The current answer is correct.
  
  – Konrad Rudolph
  Mar 5 '11 at 22:00
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

Yes. In Java you always need one class with the function main to have the JRE run it.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

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  This isn’t the reason. Ruby too is object oriented but it doesn’t need any class. The reason is just “because”.
  
  – Konrad Rudolph
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:29
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Hmm I agree the implication is not true. How about 'sun wants it so?'/.
  
  – Konerak
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:30
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Groovy (obviously built on top of JVM) does not require any classes to run. But the generated bytecode defines classes behind the scenes.
  
  – Tomasz Nurkiewicz
  Mar 5 '11 at 14:33
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Konrad - the statement wasn't that all object-oriented languages require a class, only Java. And other languages that have functions as first-class objects, unlike Java, might appear to allow functions as entry points, but they're still classes underneath.
  
  – duffymo
  Mar 5 '11 at 15:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @duffymo Well, it was before @Konerak changed the answer. The current answer is correct.
  
  – Konrad Rudolph
  Mar 5 '11 at 22:00
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Yes. In Java you always need one class with the function main to have the JRE run it.

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

share|improve this answer

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

answered Mar 5 '11 at 14:28

KonerakKonerak

33.4k980109

1

yes , you need minimum one class.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

add a comment | 

1

yes , you need minimum one class.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

add a comment | 

yes , you need minimum one class.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

edited Aug 14 '12 at 15:23

Jacob Schoen

10.2k156997

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

answered Mar 6 '11 at 5:33

stinepikestinepike

44.3k1381103

class Test 
 
public static void main(String [] args)
 
System.out.println("Hello World");