Chapter 5. Loading, Linking, and Initializing

The Java Virtual Machine dynamically loads, links and initializes classes and interfaces. Loading is the process of finding the binary representation of a class or interface type with a particular name and creating a class or interface from that binary representation. Linking is the process of taking a class or interface and combining it into the run-time state of the Java Virtual Machine so that it can be executed. Initialization of a class or interface consists of executing the class or interface initialization method <clinit>2.9).

In this chapter, §5.1 describes how the Java Virtual Machine derives symbolic references from the binary representation of a class or interface. §5.2 explains how ...

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