what is the difference between setting PATH and CLASSPATH?

Question

could you please tell me
what is the difference between setting PATH and CLASSPATH variables?

Answer 1

The CLASSPATH is an environment variable that tells the Java compiler javac.exe where to look for class files to import or java.exe where to find class files to interpret.

In contrast, the PATH is an environment variable that tells the command processor the where to look for executable files, e.g. *.exe, *.com and *.bat files. The Classpath is one of the most confusing things in Java.

So whatever you enter in the PATH, the command processor will look for it first if your executing a exe, com or bat file. So IF I open my console and input tester, the computer will see if it is in the PATH first if not it checks the SYSTEM32 if not exist there then it says not found. The classpath is not only for java but for many programming languages.

If your not dealing with programming languages then don't touch it, if your simply adding a new env var within your system so you can access it anywhere just append PATH

Hope you understand a bit :)

Answer 2

The CLASSPATH is an environment variable that tells the Java compiler javac.exe where to look for class files to import or java.exe where to find class files to interpret.

In contrast, the PATH is an environment variable that tells the command processor the where to look for executable files, e.g. *.exe, *.com and *.bat files. The Classpath is one of the most confusing things in Java

Answer 3

classpath is for setting the path of some programming languages like java,oracle etc
path is for just loading the variables

Answer 4

path is the url for executing the exe file of the program.
and classpath is the class name for executing that.
classpath may have more than one for appln and path is single to that
.

Answer 5

the path ecosystem variable encompasses a itemizing of directories the place domicile windows looks for software archives ( .exe archives) . The CLASSPATH variable is a itemizing of directories the place the Java runtime looks for Java instructions to run(.classification archives).

Answer 6

http://tricks.softwaretreasure.com/2013/11/exact-difference-between-path-and.html