How to Compile a Java Program

This wikiHow teaches you how to turn your Java source code into an executable app using a local and online compiler. If you're using a computer, the most common way to compile Java code is using Java Software Development Kit (Java SDK)...

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Using Java Software Development Kit

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Open the command prompt. You can use the Java Software Development Kit (Java SDK) from the command prompt on Windows, macOS, or Linux. If you don't have the Java SDK installed, see How to Install the Java Software Development Kit. Here's how to get to the command prompt on each system:

Windows: Right-click the Start menu and select Command Prompt. If you don't see this option, type cmd into the Windows Search bar and click Command Prompt in the search results.

macOS: Click the magnifying glass at the top-right corner of the screen to open Spotlight, type terminal, and then click Terminal in the search results.

Linux: Press Ctrl+Alt+T.

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Use the cd command to access the directory with your Java code. The source code is the file that ends with the .java file extension.

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Type javac sourcecode.java and press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return. Replace sourcecode.java with the name of your source file.[1] This compiles your source code into an executable file, which ends with the .class extension.

To see the name of the new file in the current directory, run the dir (Windows) or ls -a (Mac/Linux) command.

If you see an error when trying to

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Type java programname and press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return. Replace programname with the name of your program. This runs the program at the command line.

Jessica Tanner

Update 05 March 2020

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