Quick Answer

Handle missing class errors in dynamic loading.

Understanding the Issue

Thrown when trying to load a class through its string name using Class.forName() or similar. Differs from NoClassDefFoundError in timing and cause.

The Problem

This code demonstrates the issue:

Java Error 
Class.forName("com.example.NonExistentClass");

The Solution

Here's the corrected code:

Java Fixed 
// Solution 1: Verify class name spelling
Class<?> clazz = Class.forName("com.example.ValidClass");

// Solution 2: Check class loader context
ClassLoader loader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
Class<?> clazz = loader.loadClass("com.example.ValidClass");

// Solution 3: Handle gracefully
try {
    Class<?> clazz = Class.forName(className);
} catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
    log.error("Missing class: " + className);
}

Key Takeaways

Validate class names and loading context for dynamic loading.