Question
Answer and Explanation
Getting Javadocs for a JAR file involves a few different methods, depending on how the JAR was created and if the Javadoc documentation was packaged with it.
Here's a breakdown of common scenarios and how to handle them:
1. Javadoc Included in the JAR File:
- Often, library developers include the Javadocs inside the JAR file. In such cases, the documentation is typically in a folder named docs or javadoc within the JAR. You will have to rename your .jar file to .zip in order to be able to check the contents of the JAR file.
- How to Access:
- Rename the JAR file to a ZIP file (e.g., my-library.jar to my-library.zip).
- Extract the ZIP archive contents.
- Look for a docs or javadoc folder. Inside, you'll find HTML files that constitute the Javadocs.
- Open the index.html file in your web browser to view the documentation.
2. Separate Javadoc JAR:
- Sometimes, the Javadoc is distributed as a separate JAR file, often named with a -javadoc suffix (e.g., my-library-javadoc.jar).
- How to Access:
- Rename the Javadoc JAR file to a ZIP file as well (e.g., my-library-javadoc.jar to my-library-javadoc.zip).
- Extract the ZIP archive contents.
- You'll find a structure similar to the included Javadoc method, with an index.html file. Open it in a web browser.
3. Online Documentation:
- Many popular libraries host their Javadocs online. For example, Java's standard libraries are available on Oracle's website.
- How to Access:
- Search online for the Javadocs by the library name and version (e.g., "Apache Commons Lang 3 javadoc").
- The library's official website is often a good starting point.
4. Using a Build Tool (Maven, Gradle):
- If you use a build tool like Maven or Gradle to manage your project, they can often automatically download and associate the Javadocs with your dependencies.
- Maven:
- Most IDEs (such as IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse) will automatically associate the Javadocs for your dependencies. If it doesn't, you might need to re-import your project.
- Gradle:
- Similarly, Gradle usually manages Javadocs automatically when you import the project into an IDE.
5. Generating Javadoc from Source:
- If you have the source code of the JAR file, you can generate the Javadocs yourself using the javadoc command from the JDK.
- How to Generate:
- Navigate to the root folder of the source code in your terminal.
- Run: javadoc -d ./javadoc_output .java (replace .java with all source code files, or point to package paths).
- Once generated, you will find the Javadoc HTML files in the "javadoc_output" folder, viewable in a browser
In conclusion, start by checking within the JAR itself. If the Javadocs are not included, try to find a separate Javadoc JAR or search online. If everything fails, generate the documentation from source code.