How to set Java Path and Classpath in Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10 - Tutorial

So, you just bought a new PC or Laptop with Windows 8 operating system, and wondering how to set PATH and Classpath on Windows 8; Or, you might have just upgraded your Windows 7 laptop to the professional edition of Windows 8 and looking to set JDK Path to compile Java programs. Not to worry, this is the second step for anyone who wants to learn Java programming. Of course, the first step is to install JDK.  In this Java tutorial, we will see step by step guide to set Java PATH and CLASSPATH in the Windows 8 operating system. By the way, if you are learning Java in Windows 10 operating system, You should still be able to set the Java path and classpath in Windows 10 by following the steps given here, because navigation steps for modifying environment variables on Windows 10 and Windows 8 are almost same.

For absolutely Java beginners, It's important to know What is Path Environment variable is and Why do you need to set Path for Java? PATH is an environment variable, which contains the location of executable or commands. When you type a command in the command prompt, Operating System like Windows 7 or Windows 8, looks PATH  to find and execute that command. 

Actually, for running a Java program, you don't need to set PATH because Windows 8 comes with bundled JRE which is sufficient for running Java applications. Setting PATH simply means including the JDK bin directory into the PATH environment variable. 

You need to set PATH to compile Java source code and create Java class files.  JDK bin directory contains javac and java commands to compile and run Java programs. CLASSPATH is a little different than Path and it's used by JVM rather than Operating System to load classes at runtime. 

I suggest reading the difference between Path and Classpath and How Classpath works in Java and to know more about these fundamental concepts. 

And, If you are new to the Java world then I also recommend you go through The Complete Java MasterClass on Udemy to learn Java in a better and more structured way. This is one of the best and up-to-date courses to learn Java online.

Setting JDK Path and Classpath in Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10

This tutorial assumes that you know how to download and install JDK on Windows 8 machine. By the way, if you are an absolute beginner and just starting with Java, then it's important to download the correct version of JDK based upon whether you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 8. 

See how to install JDK 7 on Windows 8 operating system to learn more about installing JDK in Windows 7 and 8. 

Once successfully installed, it's time to set PATH and Classpath for Java. By the way, If you know how to set PATH in Windows XP, then this would be very easy for you.

Steps to set JDK Path and Classpath in Windows 7 and Windows 8

Before setting JDK Path, let's first verify Type javac in command prompt in windows 8 and see the output, if you get javac is not recognized as an internal or external command, means JDK Path is not set.

1. Confirm that PATH is not set for Java by typing javac in the command prompt.
2. Open Control Panel and select System and Security
3. Select System
4. Select Advanced System Settings
5. Select Environment Variables
6. Select and Edit Path Environment variable
7. Verify Java path by typing javac in command prompt

Step 1 : Open Control Panel in Windows 8

Step 2 : Select System

Step 3 : Select Advanced System Settings in Windows 8

Step 4 : Select Environment Variables

Step 5 : Select and Edit Path Environment variable in Windows 8

Step 6: Verify Java path by typing javac in command prompt

just type javac command, this time, you will see different output which shows various details of the java command rather than getting an earlier error. You can follow a similar process to set Classpath in Windows 8 as well. 

But it’s not a good practice to use the CLASSPATH environment variable to run Java applications, instead, every Java application should use –classpath option to specify classpath. You can also see How Classpath works in Java for more details on Java Classpath.  

Now you are ready to write Java code and compile and run them. Why not just try with the HelloWorld Java program. By the way, to know more about PATH and Classpath, which is essential for Java developers, See the following tutorials

Other Java fundamental Tutorials

• Difference between JAVA_HOME and java.home
• Difference between Path and Classpath in Java
• Difference between overloading and overriding in Java
• Top 10 Interview Questions on Abstract class and Interface
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• 5 Books and Courses to learn Object-Oriented Programming
• 25 Software Design Interview Questions for Interviews
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