How to use Java property files?

Question

I have a list of key/value pairs of configuration values I want to store as Java property files, and later load and iterate through.

Questions:

• Do I ne

Answer 1

This load the properties file:

Properties prop = new Properties();
InputStream stream = ...; //the stream to the file
try {
  prop.load(stream);
} finally {
  stream.close();
}

I use to put the .properties file in a directory where I have all the configuration files, I do not put it together with the class that accesses it, but there are no restrictions here.

For the name... I use .properties for verbosity sake, I don't think you should name it .properties if you don't want.