JVM学习笔记-常量池(Constant Pool)

 

    For each type it loads, a Java Virtual Machine must store a constant pool. A constant pool is an ordered set of constants used by the type, including literals (string, integer, and floating point constants) and symbolic references to types, fields, and methods. Entries in the constant pool are referenced by index, much like the elements of an array. Because it holds symbolic references to all types, fields, and methods used by a type, the constant pool plays a central role in the dynamic linking of Java programs. 

    虚拟机必须为每个被装载的类型维护一个常量池。常量池就是该类型所用常量的一个有序集合，包括直接常量（String ,integer和floating point常量）和对其他类型、字段和方法的符号引用。池中的数据项就像数组一样是通过索引访问的。因为常量池存储了相应类型所用到的所有类型、字段和方法的符号引用，所以它在Java程序的动态连接中起着核心作用。

 

 

Following the magic and version numbers in the class file is the constant pool. As mentioned in Chapter 5, "The Java Virtual Machine," the constant pool contains the constants associated with the class or interface defined by the file. Constants such as literal strings, final variable values, class names, and method names are stored in the constant pool. The constant pool is organized as a list of entries. A count of the number of entries in the list, constant_pool_count, precedes the actual list, constant_pool.

 

在class文件中，魔数和版本号后面的是常量池。正如第5章中所述，常量池包含了与文件中类和接口相关的常量。常量池中存储了诸如文字字符串、final变量值、类名和方法名的常量。Java虚拟机把常量池组织为入口列表的形式。在实际列表constant_pool之前，是入口列表中的技术constant_pool_count。

 

Many entries in the constant pool refer to other entries in the constant pool, and many items that follow the constant pool in the class file refer back to entries in the constant pool. Throughout the class file, constant pool entries are referred to by the integer index that indicates