Thread.getContextClassLoader() == null?

Question

Can Thread.getContextClassLoader() be null ? The javadoc is not really clear.
Should a library take this case into account ?

Update: the reason I asked is that beansbinding.dev.java.net does not work in this case (and my code does setContextClassLoader(null)

ddimitrov · Accepted Answer · 2008-10-25T12:32:45.077

12

Java threads created from JNI code in a non-java thread have null ContextClassloader unless the creator explicitly sets it.

Also in such context Thread.currentThread() returns null.

edited Oct 25 '08 at 12:32

answered Oct 22 '08 at 13:56

ddimitrov

4

This can be fixed by setting `ClassLoader cl = ClassLoader.getSystemClassLoader(); Thread.currentThread().setContextClassLoader(cl);` – Ujjwal Wadhawan Jan 21 '15 at 17:10

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 22 '08 at 13:12

5

Yes you should, someone could have called Thread.setContextClassLoader(null) and your library IMO should be able to deal with that.

answered Oct 22 '08 at 13:12

WMR

That is a really nasty thing to do. Even classes from installed extensions wont be found with that thread context class loader. – Tom Hawtin - tackline Oct 23 '08 at 13:04
I don't see why that would be nasty. – Steven Devijver May 05 '09 at 20:19

2 Answers2