What is the difference between “Class.forName()” and “Class.forName().newInstance()”?

Question

What is the difference between Class.forName() and Class.forName().newInstance()?

I do not understand the significant difference (I have read something about them!). Could you please help me?

Answer 1

Class.forName() gives you the class object, which is useful for reflection. The methods that this object has are defined by Java, not by the programmer writing the class. They are the same for every class. Calling newInstance() on that gives you an instance of that class (i.e. calling Class.forName("ExampleClass").newInstance() it is equivalent to calling new ExampleClass()), on which you can call the methods that the class defines, access the visible fields etc.