How is the Classloader for a class chosen?

Question

Motivation

Assume that we have a class loading hierarchy that looks like this:

 Bootstrap
     |
  System
     |
  Custom

Let\'s

Answer 1

Each class is requested in some method for the first time, every method is a part of some class, which was already loaded and has it's classloader defined. So when a new class is required, it's looked up throug curent method's class's classloader. If a class is loaded through custom class loader, it becomes base classloader for all classes loaded by method of such class. JVM specification does not define how to resolve classes statically (load all graph at start up), or dynamicaly (when first time requested). But static loading would take too long so its not used, and we recieve ClassNotFoundError when application is already running. Class and Interface Resolution