Overview | Package | Class | Use | Tree | Deprecated | Index | Help
| JavaTM 2 Platform Std. Ed. v1.4.1
PREV CLASS NEXT CLASS | FRAMES NO FRAMES
SUMMARY: NESTED | FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD | DETAIL: FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD

## java.lang
Class System

    java.lang.Object
      |
      +--java.lang.System

public final class System
extends Object

The `System` class contains several useful class fields and methods. It cannot be instantiated.

Among the facilities provided by the `System` class are standard input, standard output, and error output streams; access to externally defined "properties"; a means of loading files and libraries; and a utility method for quickly copying a portion of an array.

Since:
  JDK1.0

Field Summary
`static PrintStream` | `err` The "standard" error output stream.
`static InputStream` | `in` The "standard" input stream.
`static PrintStream` | `out` The "standard" output stream.

Method Summary
`static void` | `arraycopy(Object src, int srcPos, Object dest, int destPos, int length)` Copies an array from the specified source array, beginning at the specified position, to the specified position of the destination array.
`static long` | `currentTimeMillis()` Returns the current time in milliseconds.
`static void` | `exit(int status)` Terminates the currently running Java Virtual Machine.
`static void` | `gc()` Runs the garbage collector.
> `static String` | `getenv(String name)` Deprecated. The preferred way to extract system-dependent information is the system properties of the `java.lang.System.getProperty` methods and the corresponding `get` TypeName methods of the `Boolean`, `Integer`, and `Long` primitive types. For example:
>          String classPath = System.getProperty("java.class.path",".");

>          if (Boolean.getBoolean("myapp.exper.mode"))
>              enableExpertCommands();
`static Properties` | `getProperties()` Determines the current system properties.
`static String` | `getProperty(String key)` Gets the system property indicated by the specified key.
`static String` | `getProperty(String key, String def)` Gets the system property indicated by the specified key.
`static SecurityManager` | `getSecurityManager()` Gets the system security interface.
`static int` | `identityHashCode(Object x)` Returns the same hash code for the given object as would be returned by the default method hashCode(), whether or not the given object's class overrides hashCode().
`static void` | `load(String filename)` Loads a code file with the specified filename from the local file system as a dynamic library.
`static void` | `loadLibrary(String libname)` Loads the system library specified by the `libname` argument.
`static String` | `mapLibraryName(String libname)` Maps a library name into a platform-specific string representing a native library.
`static void` | `runFinalization()` Runs the finalization methods of any objects pending finalization.
`static void` | `runFinalizersOnExit(boolean value)` Deprecated. This method is inherently unsafe. It may result in finalizers being called on live objects while other threads are concurrently manipulating those objects, resulting in erratic behavior or deadlock.
`static void` | `setErr(PrintStream err)` Reassigns the "standard" error output stream.
`static void` | `setIn(InputStream in)` Reassigns the "standard" input stream.
`static void` | `setOut(PrintStream out)` Reassigns the "standard" output stream.
`static void` | `setProperties(Properties props)` Sets the system properties to the `Properties` argument.
`static String` | `setProperty(String key, String value)` Sets the system property indicated by the specified key.
`static void` | `setSecurityManager(SecurityManager s)` Sets the System security.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
`clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

Field Detail

### in

    public static final InputStream in

  The "standard" input stream. This stream is already open and ready to supply input data. Typically this stream corresponds to keyboard input or another input source specified by the host environment or user.

### out

    public static final PrintStream out

  The "standard" output stream. This stream is already open and ready to accept output data. Typically this stream corresponds to display output or another output destination specified by the host environment or user.

  For simple stand-alone Java applications, a typical way to write a line of output data is:

  >          System.out.println(data)

  See the `println` methods in class `PrintStream`.

  See Also:
    `PrintStream.println()`, `PrintStream.println(boolean)`, `PrintStream.println(char)`, `PrintStream.println(char[])`, `PrintStream.println(double)`, `PrintStream.println(float)`, `PrintStream.println(int)`, `PrintStream.println(long)`, `PrintStream.println(java.lang.Object)`, `PrintStream.println(java.lang.String)`

### err

    public static final PrintStream err

  The "standard" error output stream. This stream is already open and ready to accept output data.

  Typically this stream corresponds to display output or another output destination specified by the host environment or user. By convention, this output stream is used to display error messages or other information that should come to the immediate attention of a user even if the principal output stream, the value of the variable `out`, has been redirected to a file or other destination that is typically not continuously monitored.

Method Detail

### setIn

    public static void setIn(InputStream in)

  Reassigns the "standard" input stream.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPermission` method is called with a `RuntimePermission("setIO")` permission to see if it's ok to reassign the "standard" input stream.

  Parameters:
    `in` - the new standard input stream.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPermission` method doesn't allow reassigning of the standard input stream.
  Since:
    JDK1.1
  See Also:
    `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `RuntimePermission`

### setOut

    public static void setOut(PrintStream out)

  Reassigns the "standard" output stream.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPermission` method is called with a `RuntimePermission("setIO")` permission to see if it's ok to reassign the "standard" output stream.

  Parameters:
    `out` - the new standard output stream
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPermission` method doesn't allow reassigning of the standard output stream.
  Since:
    JDK1.1
  See Also:
    `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `RuntimePermission`

### setErr

    public static void setErr(PrintStream err)

  Reassigns the "standard" error output stream.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPermission` method is called with a `RuntimePermission("setIO")` permission to see if it's ok to reassign the "standard" error output stream.

  Parameters:
    `err` - the new standard error output stream.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPermission` method doesn't allow reassigning of the standard error output stream.
  Since:
    JDK1.1
  See Also:
    `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `RuntimePermission`

### setSecurityManager

    public static void setSecurityManager(SecurityManager s)

  Sets the System security.

  If there is a security manager already installed, this method first calls the security manager's `checkPermission` method with a `RuntimePermission("setSecurityManager")` permission to ensure it's ok to replace the existing security manager. This may result in throwing a `SecurityException`.

  Otherwise, the argument is established as the current security manager. If the argument is `null` and no security manager has been established, then no action is taken and the method simply returns.

  Parameters:
    `s` - the security manager.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if the security manager has already been set and its `checkPermission` method doesn't allow it to be replaced.
  See Also:
    `getSecurityManager()`, `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`, `RuntimePermission`

### getSecurityManager

    public static SecurityManager getSecurityManager()

  Gets the system security interface.

  Returns:
    if a security manager has already been established for the current application, then that security manager is returned; otherwise, `null` is returned.
  See Also:
    `setSecurityManager(java.lang.SecurityManager)`

### currentTimeMillis

    public static long currentTimeMillis()

  Returns the current time in milliseconds. Note that while the unit of time of the return value is a millisecond, the granularity of the value depends on the underlying operating system and may be larger. For example, many operating systems measure time in units of tens of milliseconds.

  See the description of the class `Date` for a discussion of slight discrepancies that may arise between "computer time" and coordinated universal time (UTC).

  Returns:
    the difference, measured in milliseconds, between the current time and midnight, January 1, 1970 UTC.
  See Also:
    `Date`

### arraycopy

    public static void arraycopy(Object src,
                                 int srcPos,
                                 Object dest,
                                 int destPos,
                                 int length)

  Copies an array from the specified source array, beginning at the specified position, to the specified position of the destination array. A subsequence of array components are copied from the source array referenced by `src` to the destination array referenced by `dest`. The number of components copied is equal to the `length` argument. The components at positions `srcPos` through `srcPos+length-1` in the source array are copied into positions `destPos` through `destPos+length-1`, respectively, of the destination array.

  If the `src` and `dest` arguments refer to the same array object, then the copying is performed as if the components at positions `srcPos` through `srcPos+length-1` were first copied to a temporary array with `length` components and then the contents of the temporary array were copied into positions `destPos` through `destPos+length-1` of the destination array.

  If `dest` is `null`, then a `NullPointerException` is thrown.

  If `src` is `null`, then a `NullPointerException` is thrown and the destination array is not modified.

  Otherwise, if any of the following is true, an `ArrayStoreException` is thrown and the destination is not modified:

  - The `src` argument refers to an object that is not an array.
  - The `dest` argument refers to an object that is not an array.
  - The `src` argument and `dest` argument refer to arrays whose component types are different primitive types.
  - The `src` argument refers to an array with a primitive component type and the `dest` argument refers to an array with a reference component type.
  - The `src` argument refers to an array with a reference component type and the `dest` argument refers to an array with a primitive component type.

  Otherwise, if any of the following is true, an `IndexOutOfBoundsException` is thrown and the destination is not modified:

  - The `srcPos` argument is negative.
  - The `destPos` argument is negative.
  - The `length` argument is negative.
  - `srcPos+length` is greater than `src.length`, the length of the source array.
  - `destPos+length` is greater than `dest.length`, the length of the destination array.

  Otherwise, if any actual component of the source array from position `srcPos` through `srcPos+length-1` cannot be converted to the component type of the destination array by assignment conversion, an `ArrayStoreException` is thrown. In this case, let k be the smallest nonnegative integer less than length such that `src[srcPos+`k`]` cannot be converted to the component type of the destination array; when the exception is thrown, source array components from positions `srcPos` through `srcPos+`k`-1` will already have been copied to destination array positions `destPos` through `destPos+`k`-1` and no other positions of the destination array will have been modified. (Because of the restrictions already itemized, this paragraph effectively applies only to the situation where both arrays have component types that are reference types.)

  Parameters:
    `src` - the source array.
    `srcPos` - starting position in the source array.
    `dest` - the destination array.
    `destPos` - starting position in the destination data.
    `length` - the number of array elements to be copied.
  Throws:
    `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - if copying would cause access of data outside array bounds.
    `ArrayStoreException` - if an element in the `src` array could not be stored into the `dest` array because of a type mismatch.
    `NullPointerException` - if either `src` or `dest` is `null`.

### identityHashCode

    public static int identityHashCode(Object x)

  Returns the same hash code for the given object as would be returned by the default method hashCode(), whether or not the given object's class overrides hashCode(). The hash code for the null reference is zero.

  Parameters:
    `x` - object for which the hashCode is to be calculated
  Returns:
    the hashCode
  Since:
    JDK1.1

### getProperties

    public static Properties getProperties()

  Determines the current system properties.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPropertiesAccess` method is called with no arguments. This may result in a security exception.

  The current set of system properties for use by the `getProperty(String)` method is returned as a `Properties` object. If there is no current set of system properties, a set of system properties is first created and initialized. This set of system properties always includes values for the following keys:

  Key | Description of Associated Value
  --- | ---
  `java.version` | Java Runtime Environment version
  `java.vendor` | Java Runtime Environment vendor
  | `java.vendor.url` | Java vendor URL
  `java.home` | Java installation directory
  `java.vm.specification.version` | Java Virtual Machine specification version
  `java.vm.specification.vendor` | Java Virtual Machine specification vendor
  `java.vm.specification.name` | Java Virtual Machine specification name
  `java.vm.version` | Java Virtual Machine implementation version
  `java.vm.vendor` | Java Virtual Machine implementation vendor
  `java.vm.name` | Java Virtual Machine implementation name
  `java.specification.version` | Java Runtime Environment specification version
  `java.specification.vendor` | Java Runtime Environment specification vendor
  `java.specification.name` | Java Runtime Environment specification name
  `java.class.version` | Java class format version number
  `java.class.path` | Java class path
  `java.library.path` | List of paths to search when loading libraries
  `java.io.tmpdir` | Default temp file path
  `java.compiler` | Name of JIT compiler to use
  `java.ext.dirs` | Path of extension directory or directories
  `os.name` | Operating system name
  `os.arch` | Operating system architecture
  `os.version` | Operating system version
  `file.separator` | File separator ("/" on UNIX)
  `path.separator` | Path separator (":" on UNIX)
  `line.separator` | Line separator ("\n" on UNIX)
  `user.name` | User's account name
  `user.home` | User's home directory
  `user.dir` | User's current working directory

  Multiple paths in a system property value are separated by the path separator character of the platform.

  Note that even if the security manager does not permit the `getProperties` operation, it may choose to permit the `getProperty(String)` operation.

  Returns:
    the system properties
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPropertiesAccess` method doesn't allow access to the system properties.
  See Also:
    `setProperties(java.util.Properties)`, `SecurityException`, `SecurityManager.checkPropertiesAccess()`, `Properties`

### setProperties

    public static void setProperties(Properties props)

  Sets the system properties to the `Properties` argument.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPropertiesAccess` method is called with no arguments. This may result in a security exception.

  The argument becomes the current set of system properties for use by the `getProperty(String)` method. If the argument is `null`, then the current set of system properties is forgotten.

  Parameters:
    `props` - the new system properties.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPropertiesAccess` method doesn't allow access to the system properties.
  See Also:
    `getProperties()`, `Properties`, `SecurityException`, `SecurityManager.checkPropertiesAccess()`

### getProperty

    public static String getProperty(String key)

  Gets the system property indicated by the specified key.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPropertyAccess` method is called with the key as its argument. This may result in a SecurityException.

  If there is no current set of system properties, a set of system properties is first created and initialized in the same manner as for the `getProperties` method.

  Parameters:
    `key` - the name of the system property.
  Returns:
    the string value of the system property, or `null` if there is no property with that key.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPropertyAccess` method doesn't allow access to the specified system property.
    `NullPointerException` - if `key` is `null`.
    `IllegalArgumentException` - if `key` is empty.
  See Also:
    `setProperty(java.lang.String, java.lang.String)`, `SecurityException`, `SecurityManager.checkPropertyAccess(java.lang.String)`, `getProperties()`

### getProperty

    public static String getProperty(String key,
                                     String def)

  Gets the system property indicated by the specified key.

  First, if there is a security manager, its `checkPropertyAccess` method is called with the `key` as its argument.

  If there is no current set of system properties, a set of system properties is first created and initialized in the same manner as for the `getProperties` method.

  Parameters:
    `key` - the name of the system property.
    `def` - a default value.
  Returns:
    the string value of the system property, or the default value if there is no property with that key.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPropertyAccess` method doesn't allow access to the specified system property.
    `NullPointerException` - if `key` is `null`.
    `IllegalArgumentException` - if `key` is empty.
  See Also:
    `setProperty(java.lang.String, java.lang.String)`, `SecurityManager.checkPropertyAccess(java.lang.String)`, `getProperties()`

### setProperty

    public static String setProperty(String key,
                                     String value)

  Sets the system property indicated by the specified key.

  First, if a security manager exists, its `SecurityManager.checkPermission` method is called with a `PropertyPermission(key, "write")` permission. This may result in a SecurityException being thrown. If no exception is thrown, the specified property is set to the given value.

  Parameters:
    `key` - the name of the system property.
    `value` - the value of the system property.
  Returns:
    the previous value of the system property, or `null` if it did not have one.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkPermission` method doesn't allow setting of the specified property.
    `NullPointerException` - if `key` is `null`.
    `IllegalArgumentException` - if `key` is empty.
  Since:
    1.2
  See Also:
    `getProperty(java.lang.String)`, `getProperty(java.lang.String)`, `getProperty(java.lang.String, java.lang.String)`, `PropertyPermission`, `SecurityManager.checkPermission(java.security.Permission)`

### getenv

    public static String getenv(String name)

  Deprecated. The preferred way to extract system-dependent information is the system properties of the `java.lang.System.getProperty` methods and the corresponding `get` TypeName methods of the `Boolean`, `Integer`, and `Long` primitive types. For example:

  >          String classPath = System.getProperty("java.class.path",".");

  >          if (Boolean.getBoolean("myapp.exper.mode"))
  >              enableExpertCommands();

  Gets an environment variable. An environment variable is a system-dependent external variable that has a string value.

  Parameters:
    `name` - of the environment variable
  Returns:
    the value of the variable, or `null` if the variable is not defined.
  See Also:
    `Boolean.getBoolean(java.lang.String)`, `Integer.getInteger(java.lang.String)`, `Integer.getInteger(java.lang.String, int)`, `Integer.getInteger(java.lang.String, java.lang.Integer)`, `Long.getLong(java.lang.String)`, `Long.getLong(java.lang.String, long)`, `Long.getLong(java.lang.String, java.lang.Long)`, `getProperties()`, `getProperty(java.lang.String)`, `getProperty(java.lang.String, java.lang.String)`

### exit

    public static void exit(int status)

  Terminates the currently running Java Virtual Machine. The argument serves as a status code; by convention, a nonzero status code indicates abnormal termination.

  This method calls the `exit` method in class `Runtime`. This method never returns normally.

  The call `System.exit(n)` is effectively equivalent to the call:

  >      Runtime.getRuntime().exit(n)

  Parameters:
    `status` - exit status.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkExit` method doesn't allow exit with the specified status.
  See Also:
    `Runtime.exit(int)`

### gc

    public static void gc()

  Runs the garbage collector.

  Calling the `gc` method suggests that the Java Virtual Machine expend effort toward recycling unused objects in order to make the memory they currently occupy available for quick reuse. When control returns from the method call, the Java Virtual Machine has made a best effort to reclaim space from all discarded objects.

  The call `System.gc()` is effectively equivalent to the call:

  >      Runtime.getRuntime().gc()

  See Also:
    `Runtime.gc()`

### runFinalization

    public static void runFinalization()

  Runs the finalization methods of any objects pending finalization.

  Calling this method suggests that the Java Virtual Machine expend effort toward running the `finalize` methods of objects that have been found to be discarded but whose `finalize` methods have not yet been run. When control returns from the method call, the Java Virtual Machine has made a best effort to complete all outstanding finalizations.

  The call `System.runFinalization()` is effectively equivalent to the call:

  >      Runtime.getRuntime().runFinalization()

  See Also:
    `Runtime.runFinalization()`

### runFinalizersOnExit

    public static void runFinalizersOnExit(boolean value)

  Deprecated. This method is inherently unsafe. It may result in finalizers being called on live objects while other threads are concurrently manipulating those objects, resulting in erratic behavior or deadlock.

  Enable or disable finalization on exit; doing so specifies that the finalizers of all objects that have finalizers that have not yet been automatically invoked are to be run before the Java runtime exits. By default, finalization on exit is disabled.

  If there is a security manager, its `checkExit` method is first called with 0 as its argument to ensure the exit is allowed. This could result in a SecurityException.

  Parameters:
    `value` - indicating enabling or disabling of finalization
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkExit` method doesn't allow the exit.
  Since:
    JDK1.1
  See Also:
    `Runtime.exit(int)`, `Runtime.gc()`, `SecurityManager.checkExit(int)`

### load

    public static void load(String filename)

  Loads a code file with the specified filename from the local file system as a dynamic library. The filename argument must be a complete path name.

  The call `System.load(name)` is effectively equivalent to the call:

  >      Runtime.getRuntime().load(name)

  Parameters:
    `filename` - the file to load.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkLink` method doesn't allow loading of the specified dynamic library
    `UnsatisfiedLinkError` - if the file does not exist.
  See Also:
    `Runtime.load(java.lang.String)`, `SecurityManager.checkLink(java.lang.String)`

### loadLibrary

    public static void loadLibrary(String libname)

  Loads the system library specified by the `libname` argument. The manner in which a library name is mapped to the actual system library is system dependent.

  The call `System.loadLibrary(name)` is effectively equivalent to the call

  >      Runtime.getRuntime().loadLibrary(name)

  Parameters:
    `libname` - the name of the library.
  Throws:
    `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkLink` method doesn't allow loading of the specified dynamic library
    `UnsatisfiedLinkError` - if the library does not exist.
  See Also:
    `Runtime.loadLibrary(java.lang.String)`, `SecurityManager.checkLink(java.lang.String)`

### mapLibraryName

    public static String mapLibraryName(String libname)

  Maps a library name into a platform-specific string representing a native library.

  Parameters:
    `libname` - the name of the library.
  Returns:
    a platform-dependent native library name.
  Since:
    1.2
  See Also:
    `loadLibrary(java.lang.String)`, `ClassLoader.findLibrary(java.lang.String)`

Overview | Package | Class | Use | Tree | Deprecated | Index | Help
| JavaTM 2 Platform Std. Ed. v1.4.1
PREV CLASS NEXT CLASS | FRAMES NO FRAMES
SUMMARY: NESTED | FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD | DETAIL: FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD

Submit a bug or feature
For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java 2 SDK SE Developer Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.

Copyright 2002 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms.