Logger objects may be obtained by calls on one of the getLogger factory methods. These will either create a new Logger or return a suitable existing Logger.
Logging messages will be forwarded to registered Handler objects, which can forward the messages to a variety of destinations, including consoles, files, OS logs, etc.
Each Logger keeps track of a "parent" Logger, which is its nearest existing ancestor in the Logger namespace.
Each Logger has a "Level" associated with it. This reflects a minimum Level that this logger cares about. If a Logger's level is set to null, then its effective level is inherited from its parent, which may in turn obtain it recursively from its parent, and so on up the tree.
The log level can be configured based on the properties from the logging configuration file, as described in the description of the LogManager class. However it may also be dynamically changed by calls on the Logger.setLevel method. If a logger's level is changed the change may also affect child loggers, since any child logger that has null as its level will inherit its effective level from its parent.
On each logging call the Logger initially performs a cheap check of the request level (e.g. SEVERE or FINE) against the effective log level of the logger. If the request level is lower than the log level, the logging call returns immediately.
After passing this initial (cheap) test, the Logger will allocate a LogRecord to describe the logging message. It will then call a Filter (if present) to do a more detailed check on whether the record should be published. If that passes it will then publish the LogRecord to its output Handlers. By default, loggers also publish to their parent's Handlers, recursively up the tree.
Each Logger may have a ResourceBundle name associated with it. The named bundle will be used for localizing logging messages. If a Logger does not have its own ResourceBundle name, then it will inherit the ResourceBundle name from its parent, recursively up the tree.
Most of the logger output methods take a "msg" argument. This msg argument may be either a raw value or a localization key. During formatting, if the logger has (or inherits) a localization ResourceBundle and if the ResourceBundle has a mapping for the msg string, then the msg string is replaced by the localized value. Otherwise the original msg string is used. Typically, formatters use java.text.MessageFormat style formatting to format parameters, so for example a format string "{0} {1}" would format two parameters as strings.
When mapping ResourceBundle names to ResourceBundles, the Logger will first try to use the Thread's ContextClassLoader. If that is null it will try the SystemClassLoader instead. As a temporary transition feature in the initial implementation, if the Logger is unable to locate a ResourceBundle from the ContextClassLoader or SystemClassLoader the Logger will also search up the class stack and use successive calling ClassLoaders to try to locate a ResourceBundle. (This call stack search is to allow containers to transition to using ContextClassLoaders and is likely to be removed in future versions.)
Formatting (including localization) is the responsibility of the output Handler, which will typically call a Formatter.
Note that formatting need not occur synchronously. It may be delayed until a LogRecord is actually written to an external sink.
The logging methods are grouped in five main categories:
There are a set of "log" methods that take a log level, a message string, and optionally some parameters to the message string.
There are a set of "logp" methods (for "log precise") that are like the "log" methods, but also take an explicit source class name and method name.
There are a set of "logrb" method (for "log with resource bundle") that are like the "logp" method, but also take an explicit resource bundle name for use in localizing the log message.
There are convenience methods for tracing method entries (the "entering" methods), method returns (the "exiting" methods) and throwing exceptions (the "throwing" methods).
Finally, there are a set of convenience methods for use in the very simplest cases, when a developer simply wants to log a simple string at a given log level. These methods are named after the standard Level names ("severe", "warning", "info", etc.) and take a single argument, a message string.
For the methods that do not take an explicit source name and method name, the Logging framework will make a "best effort" to determine which class and method called into the logging method. However, it is important to realize that this automatically inferred information may only be approximate (or may even be quite wrong!). Virtual machines are allowed to do extensive optimizations when JITing and may entirely remove stack frames, making it impossible to reliably locate the calling class and method.
All methods on Logger are multi-thread safe.
Subclassing Information: Note that a LogManager class may provide its own implementation of named Loggers for any point in the namespace. Therefore, any subclasses of Logger (unless they are implemented in conjunction with a new LogManager class) should take care to obtain a Logger instance from the LogManager class and should delegate operations such as "isLoggable" and "log(LogRecord)" to that instance. Note that in order to intercept all logging output, subclasses need only override the log(LogRecord) method. All the other logging methods are implemented as calls on this log(LogRecord) method.
private ArrayList<WeakReference<Logger>> kids; // WeakReferences to loggers that have us as parent
The preferred way to get the global logger object is via the call
Logger.getLogger(Logger.GLOBAL_LOGGER_NAME).
Logger.getLogger(Logger.GLOBAL_LOGGER_NAME).The logger will be initially configured with a null Level and with useParentHandlers true.
name A name for the logger. This should
be a dot-separated name and should normally
be based on the package name or class name
of the subsystem, such as java.net
or javax.swing. It may be null for anonymous Loggers.resourceBundleName name of ResourceBundle to be used for localizing
messages for this logger. May be null if none
of the messages require localization.java.util.MissingResourceException if the ResourceBundleName is non-null and
no corresponding resource can be found.If a new logger is created its log level will be configured based on the LogManager configuration and it will configured to also send logging output to its parent's handlers. It will be registered in the LogManager global namespace.
name A name for the logger. This should
be a dot-separated name and should normally
be based on the package name or class name
of the subsystem, such as java.net
or javax.swingjava.lang.NullPointerException if the name is null.If a new logger is created its log level will be configured based on the LogManager and it will configured to also send logging output to its parent loggers Handlers. It will be registered in the LogManager global namespace.
If the named Logger already exists and does not yet have a localization resource bundle then the given resource bundle name is used. If the named Logger already exists and has a different resource bundle name then an IllegalArgumentException is thrown.
name A name for the logger. This should
be a dot-separated name and should normally
be based on the package name or class name
of the subsystem, such as java.net
or javax.swingresourceBundleName name of ResourceBundle to be used for localizing
messages for this logger. May be null if none of
the messages require localization.java.util.MissingResourceException if the named ResourceBundle cannot be found.java.lang.IllegalArgumentException if the Logger already exists and uses
a different resource bundle name.java.lang.NullPointerException if the name is null.This factory method is primarily intended for use from applets. Because the resulting Logger is anonymous it can be kept private by the creating class. This removes the need for normal security checks, which in turn allows untrusted applet code to update the control state of the Logger. For example an applet can do a setLevel or an addHandler on an anonymous Logger.
Even although the new logger is anonymous, it is configured to have the root logger ("") as its parent. This means that by default it inherits its effective level and handlers from the root logger.
This factory method is primarily intended for use from applets. Because the resulting Logger is anonymous it can be kept private by the creating class. This removes the need for normal security checks, which in turn allows untrusted applet code to update the control state of the Logger. For example an applet can do a setLevel or an addHandler on an anonymous Logger.
Even although the new logger is anonymous, it is configured to have the root logger ("") as its parent. This means that by default it inherits its effective level and handlers from the root logger.
resourceBundleName name of ResourceBundle to be used for localizing
messages for this logger.
May be null if none of the messages require localization.java.util.MissingResourceException if the named ResourceBundle cannot be found.After passing the initial "level" check, the Logger will call this Filter to check if a log record should really be published.
newFilter a filter object (may be null)java.lang.SecurityException if a security manager exists and if
the caller does not have LoggingPermission("control").If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given message is forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then a corresponding LogRecord is created and forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)param1 parameter to the messageIf the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then a corresponding LogRecord is created and forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)params array of parameters to the messageIf the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given arguments are stored in a LogRecord which is forwarded to all registered output handlers.
Note that the thrown argument is stored in the LogRecord thrown property, rather than the LogRecord parameters property. Thus is it processed specially by output Formatters and is not treated as a formatting parameter to the LogRecord message property.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)thrown Throwable associated with log message.If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given message is forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then a corresponding LogRecord is created and forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)param1 Parameter to the log message.If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then a corresponding LogRecord is created and forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)params Array of parameters to the messageIf the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given arguments are stored in a LogRecord which is forwarded to all registered output handlers.
Note that the thrown argument is stored in the LogRecord thrown property, rather than the LogRecord parameters property. Thus is it processed specially by output Formatters and is not treated as a formatting parameter to the LogRecord message property.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)thrown Throwable associated with log message.If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given message is forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
The msg string is localized using the named resource bundle. If the resource bundle name is null, or an empty String or invalid then the msg string is not localized.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestbundleName name of resource bundle to localize msg,
can be nullmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then a corresponding LogRecord is created and forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
The msg string is localized using the named resource bundle. If the resource bundle name is null, or an empty String or invalid then the msg string is not localized.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestbundleName name of resource bundle to localize msg,
can be nullmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)param1 Parameter to the log message.If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then a corresponding LogRecord is created and forwarded to all the registered output Handler objects.
The msg string is localized using the named resource bundle. If the resource bundle name is null, or an empty String or invalid then the msg string is not localized.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestbundleName name of resource bundle to localize msg,
can be null.msg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)params Array of parameters to the messageIf the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given arguments are stored in a LogRecord which is forwarded to all registered output handlers.
The msg string is localized using the named resource bundle. If the resource bundle name is null, or an empty String or invalid then the msg string is not localized.
Note that the thrown argument is stored in the LogRecord thrown property, rather than the LogRecord parameters property. Thus is it processed specially by output Formatters and is not treated as a formatting parameter to the LogRecord message property.
level One of the message level identifiers, e.g. SEVEREsourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that issued the logging requestbundleName name of resource bundle to localize msg,
can be nullmsg The string message (or a key in the message catalog)thrown Throwable associated with log message.This is a convenience method that can be used to log entry to a method. A LogRecord with message "ENTRY", log level FINER, and the given sourceMethod and sourceClass is logged.
sourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that is being enteredThis is a convenience method that can be used to log entry to a method. A LogRecord with message "ENTRY {0}", log level FINER, and the given sourceMethod, sourceClass, and parameter is logged.
sourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that is being enteredparam1 parameter to the method being enteredThis is a convenience method that can be used to log entry to a method. A LogRecord with message "ENTRY" (followed by a format {N} indicator for each entry in the parameter array), log level FINER, and the given sourceMethod, sourceClass, and parameters is logged.
sourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of method that is being enteredparams array of parameters to the method being enteredThis is a convenience method that can be used to log returning from a method. A LogRecord with message "RETURN", log level FINER, and the given sourceMethod and sourceClass is logged.
sourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of the methodThis is a convenience method that can be used to log returning from a method. A LogRecord with message "RETURN {0}", log level FINER, and the gives sourceMethod, sourceClass, and result object is logged.
sourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of the methodresult Object that is being returnedThis is a convenience method to log that a method is terminating by throwing an exception. The logging is done using the FINER level.
If the logger is currently enabled for the given message level then the given arguments are stored in a LogRecord which is forwarded to all registered output handlers. The LogRecord's message is set to "THROW".
Note that the thrown argument is stored in the LogRecord thrown property, rather than the LogRecord parameters property. Thus is it processed specially by output Formatters and is not treated as a formatting parameter to the LogRecord message property.
sourceClass name of class that issued the logging requestsourceMethod name of the method.thrown The Throwable that is being thrown.If the new level is null, it means that this node should inherit its level from its nearest ancestor with a specific (non-null) level value.
newLevel the new value for the log level (may be null)java.lang.SecurityException if a security manager exists and if
the caller does not have LoggingPermission("control").By default, Loggers also send their output to their parent logger. Typically the root Logger is configured with a set of Handlers that essentially act as default handlers for all loggers.
handler a logging Handlerjava.lang.SecurityException if a security manager exists and if
the caller does not have LoggingPermission("control").Returns silently if the given Handler is not found or is null
handler a logging Handlerjava.lang.SecurityException if a security manager exists and if
the caller does not have LoggingPermission("control").useParentHandlers true if output is to be sent to the
logger's parent.java.lang.SecurityException if a security manager exists and if
the caller does not have LoggingPermission("control").This method returns the nearest extant parent in the namespace. Thus if a Logger is called "a.b.c.d", and a Logger called "a.b" has been created but no logger "a.b.c" exists, then a call of getParent on the Logger "a.b.c.d" will return the Logger "a.b".
The result will be null if it is called on the root Logger in the namespace.
It should not be called from application code.
parent the new parent loggerjava.lang.SecurityException if a security manager exists and if
the caller does not have LoggingPermission("control").