The Java Extensions Framework

Extensions are packages of Java classes (and any associated native code) that application developers can use to extend the functionality of the core platform. The extension mechanism allows the Java virtual machine (VM) to use the extension classes in much the same way as the VM uses the system classes. The extension mechanism also provides a way for needed extensions to be retrieved from specified URLs when they are not already installed in the JDK or JRE.

Overview

Overview - What extensions are and how to turn Java packages into extensions.

Extension Mechanism Specification

Specification - The specification for the Java Extensions Framework.

API Specification

The following classes play a role in the extensions framework:

See also the API Details section of the mechanism specification for notes on these APIs.

FAQ

FAQ - Answers to frequently asked questions about extensions.

Java Software