# Module jdk.compiler

module jdk.compiler
Defines the implementation of the system Java compiler and its command line equivalent, javac.

The `com.sun.source.*` packages provide the Compiler Tree API: an API for accessing the abstract trees (ASTs) representing Java source code and documentation comments, used by javac, javadoc and related tools.

## javac

This module provides the equivalent of command-line access to javac via the `ToolProvider` and `Tool` service provider interfaces (SPIs), and more flexible access via the `JavaCompiler` SPI.

Instances of the tools can be obtained by calling `ToolProvider.findFirst` or the service loader with the name `"javac"`.

In addition, instances of `JavaCompiler.CompilationTask` obtained from JavaCompiler can be downcast to `JavacTask` for access to lower level aspects of javac, such as the `Abstract Syntax Tree` (AST).

This module uses the `FileSystemProvider` API to locate file system providers. In particular, this means that a jar file system provider, such as that in the `jdk.zipfs` module, must be available if the compiler is to be able to read JAR files.

Module Graph:
Tool Guides:
  javac
Since:
  9

## Packages

Exports
Package
Description
com.sun.source.doctree
Provides interfaces to represent documentation comments as abstract syntax trees (AST).
com.sun.source.tree
Provides interfaces to represent source code as abstract syntax trees (AST).
com.sun.source.util
Provides utilities for operations on abstract syntax trees (AST).
com.sun.tools.javac
This package provides a legacy entry point for the javac tool.
Indirect Exports
From
Packages
java.compiler
javax.annotation.processing javax.lang.model javax.lang.model.element javax.lang.model.type javax.lang.model.util javax.tools

## Modules

Requires
Modifier
Module
Description
transitive
java.compiler
Defines the Language Model, Annotation Processing, and Java Compiler APIs.

## Services

Provides
Type
Description
JavaCompiler
Interface to invoke Java programming language compilers from programs.
Tool
Common interface for tools that can be invoked from a program.
ToolProvider
An interface for command-line tools to provide a way to be invoked without necessarily starting a new VM.
Uses
Type
Description
Plugin
The interface for a javac plug-in.
Processor
The interface for an annotation processor.