All You Need to Know About Packages in Java

What Are Packages in Java?

A set of classes and interfaces grouped together are known as Packages in JAVA. The name itself defines that pack (group) of related types such as classes, sub-packages, enumeration, annotations, and interfaces that provide name-space management. Every class is a part of a certain package. When you need to use an existing class, you need to add the package within the Java program.

Why Are They Used For?

The benefits of using Packages in Java are as follows:

• The packages organize the group of classes into a single API unit
• It will control the naming conflicts
• The access protection will be easier. Protected and default are the access level control to the package
• Easy to locate the related classes
• Reuse the existing classes in packages

You can categorize packages into:

• Built-in Packages
• User-defined Packages

The built-in packages are from the Java API. The JAVA API is the library of pre-defined classes available in the Java Development Environment. Few built-in packages are below:

• Java.lang–Bundles the fundamental classes
• Java.io - Bundle of input and output function classes
• Java.awt–Bundle of abstract window toolkit classes
• Java.swing–Bundle of windows application GUI toolkit classes
• Java.net–Bundle of network infrastructure classes
• Java.util–Bundle of collection framework classes
• Java.applet–Bundle of creating applet classes
• Java.sql -Bundle of related data processing classes

The built-in packages are again categorized into extension packages. These extension packages start with javax. This is for all the Java languages, which have lightweight component classes.

• Javax.swing
• Javax.servlet
• Javax.sql

Note: The default package imported with no declaration is java.lang package.

User-defined packages are bundles of groups of classes or interfaces created by the programmer for their purpose.

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Packages in Java Working Mechanism

In the above example, Java is the package name, awt is the subpackage name and event is the class name. University is the user-defined package name, Department is the subpackage name, and Staff is the class name. Consider a folder inside a file directory. The directory Java is accessible through classpath, to make sure that the classes are easy to locate.

Add Built-in Packages in Java Program

Example 1

Code 1:

import java.util.*;  //get all classes from subpackage loads Date class

import java.util.Scanner; //get one specific class Scanner

public class PackageImportExample 

{  

public static void main(String args[])throws Exception

  {  

// Instantiate a scanner object 

          Scanner scanObj = new Scanner(System.in);  

          System.out.print("Kindly Enter Your UserName :");  

          String sName = scanObj.nextLine();  

          System.out.println("UserName is: " + sName);  

  scanObj.close(); 

      // Instantiate a Date class from Util package

      Date currdate = new Date();

      System.out.println(currdate.toString());

//Without importing java.net package use complete qualified name to access the class InetAddress

java.net.InetAddress ipAddress=java.net.InetAddress.getLocalHost();  

System.out.println("My IP Address :"+ipAddress.getHostAddress());                     

  }  

}  

To get the use of a package or a class from a library, you need the help of the keyword “import”. 

In the above code, there are three ways to import the package.

Import One Specific Class From a Package

• import java.util.scanner

In the above program, you have included only one scanner class from util subpackage. It will get the user value and display.

Import One Whole Package

• import java.util.*

In the above program, the * denotes all the classes from the util package. Along with other classes, it loads the date class as well. The date class displays the current date and time.

Use Complete Qualified Name

java.net.InetAddress ipAddress=java.net.InetAddress.getLocalHost();

The InetAddress class is available in the java.net package, without using the import keyword. Directly call the InetAddress class with the complete package name  java.net.InetAddress. This will get the IP address.

Create Your Own Packages in Java

To create a package, you should be aware of the Java file system directory. This is similar to the files and folders organized on your computer. You need the help of the keyword “package” to create your own package. The declaration of the package should be the first statement before any import statements in the Java class.

Before creating your own package, you need to keep in mind that all the classes should be public so that you can access them outside the package.

Let us consider our example of a User-defined package - University.Department.Staff. 

Now, create your university package.

Example 2

Code 2:

//creates user defined package university

package university;

public class WelcomeMessage

{

//has one method ShowMessage()

public void ShowMessage()

{

System.out.println("Welcome to our University");

}

}

The above command will create a folder name ‘university’ in the current directory. 

Note: –d is used to save the class file in the directory and the ‘.’ (dot) denotes the package in the current directory. To avoid name conflicts, please use lower case for package names.

Let us create the department sub-packages in Java.

A package within another package is a sub-package. 

Example 3

Code 3:

//creates sub package within university package

package university.department;

public class DepartmentGoal

{

//has one method DepartmentGoalMessage()

public void DepartmentGoalMessage()

{

System.out.println("Department Message Displayed");

}

}

The above command will create a folder name department inside the folder university.

Let us create the staff class within the department subpackage.

Code 4:

//creates class Staff inside department sub package within university package

package university.department;

public class Staff

{

//has two methods for handling staffs

public void AddStaff()

{

System.out.println("Staff Added !");

}

public void RemoveStaff()

{

System.out.println("Staff Removed !");

}

}  

Now the user-defined packages in Java and its class are ready to use. Let us see how to include these classes in the Java program.

Add User-Defined Package in Java Program

By using the keyword “import”, you can add the user-defined packages in Java.

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Code 5:

import university.department.Staff;

//import user defined package

public class MyOwnPackageExample 

{  

public static void main(String args[])

  {

Staff mystaff = new Staff();

mystaff.AddStaff();

mystaff.RemoveStaff();  

  }

}

Code 6:

import university.department.Staff;

//import user defined package

import university.department.DepartmentGoal;

public class MyOwnPackageExample 

{  

public static void main(String args[])

  {

  //DepartmentGoal class object created by import that class;

DepartmentGoal dgoal =new DepartmentGoal();

dgoal.DepartmentGoalMessage();  

Staff mystaff = new Staff();

mystaff.AddStaff();

mystaff.RemoveStaff();  

  }

}

Note: The import statements should appear after the package statement in package creating files.

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Conclusion:

A Java package is a set of classes, interfaces, and sub-packages that are similar. In Java, it divides packages into two types: built-in packages and user-defined packages.

Built-in Packages (packages from the Java API) and User-defined Packages are the two types of packages (create your own packages). Packages help you prevent name conflicts and write more maintainable code.

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