Converting a given class (let's say, java.lang.Object) to a byte array. Is it possible?

Question

Given that class loaders accept to take as input a byte array of a given class, returning a Class, I wonder whether it is possible to do the reverse, t

Answer 1

Here's something to try with BCEL:

JavaClass clazz = Repository.lookupClass("foo.bar.YourClass");
byte[] bytes = clazz.getBytes();

I didn't know the answer prior to reading your question, but I knew I should check the following libraries, because they support the Java class file format:

• BCEL
• javassist
• asm

If the above doesn't work, look for something else in these libraries.