How to specify JAR files in the classpath?

A JAR file (or Java Archive) is a ZIP file, file that contains an optional META-INF directory, used to distribute a set of Java classes and interfaces. The java compiler and run-time can search for classes in JAR files. The classes in a JAR file must be under the right directory that is "directory name = package name".

To include a JAR file in the class search path, the classpath points to the JAR itself, not the directory that contains the JAR.

For example, you have a JAR myLibs.jar in directory /myLibs. To have the Java compiler look for classes in this jar, you need to specify:

javac -classpath /myLibs/myLibs.jar ...

and not directly point to the directory myLibs

References

Packaging Programs in JAR Files
Java Archive (JAR) Files
JAR File Specification

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