# Class ClassFormatException

java.lang.Object
java.lang.Throwable
java.lang.Exception
java.lang.RuntimeException
org.apache.bcel.classfile.ClassFormatException

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable`

Direct Known Subclasses:
  `InvalidMethodSignatureException`

public class ClassFormatException extends RuntimeException
Thrown when the BCEL attempts to read a class file and determines that a class is malformed or otherwise cannot be interpreted as a class file.

See Also:
  - Serialized Form

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `ClassFormatException()`
  Constructs a new instance with `null` as its detail message.
  `ClassFormatException(String message)`
  Constructs a new instance with the specified detail message.
  `ClassFormatException(String message, Throwable cause)`
  Constructs a new instance with the specified detail message and cause.
  `ClassFormatException(Throwable cause)`
  Constructs a new instance with the specified cause and a detail message of `(cause==null ? null : cause.toString())` (which typically contains the class and detail message of `cause`).

- ## Method Summary

  ### Methods inherited from class Throwable

  `addSuppressed, fillInStackTrace, getCause, getLocalizedMessage, getMessage, getStackTrace, getSuppressed, initCause, printStackTrace, printStackTrace, printStackTrace, setStackTrace, toString`

  ### Methods inherited from class Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### ClassFormatException

    public ClassFormatException()
    Constructs a new instance with `null` as its detail message. The cause is not initialized, and may subsequently be initialized by a call to `Throwable.initCause(Throwable)`.

  - ### ClassFormatException

    public ClassFormatException(String message)
    Constructs a new instance with the specified detail message. The cause is not initialized, and may subsequently be initialized by a call to `Throwable.initCause(Throwable)`.
    Parameters:
      `message` - the detail message. The detail message is saved for later retrieval by the `Throwable.getMessage()` method.

  - ### ClassFormatException

    public ClassFormatException(String message, Throwable cause)
    Constructs a new instance with the specified detail message and cause.
    Parameters:
      `message` - the detail message (which is saved for later retrieval by the `Throwable.getMessage()` method).
      `cause` - the cause (which is saved for later retrieval by the `Throwable.getCause()` method). A `null` value is permitted, and indicates that the cause is nonexistent or unknown.
    Since:
      6.0

  - ### ClassFormatException

    public ClassFormatException(Throwable cause)
    Constructs a new instance with the specified cause and a detail message of `(cause==null ? null : cause.toString())` (which typically contains the class and detail message of `cause`). This constructor is useful for runtime exceptions that are little more than wrappers for other throwables.
    Parameters:
      `cause` - the cause (which is saved for later retrieval by the `Throwable.getCause()` method). A `null` value is permitted, and indicates that the cause is nonexistent or unknown.
    Since:
      6.7.0