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Java Logging

Java Logging
Java Logging

Contents

Java Logging

In this tutorial, we will find out about Java Logging and its different segments with the help of examples.

Java allows us to make and catch log messages and files through the process of logging.

In Java, logging requires structures and APIs. Java has a built-in logging structure in the java.util.logging package.

We can likewise use third-party systems like Log4j, Logback and a lot more for logging purposes.


Java Logging Components

The figure below represents the core components and the flow of control of the Java Logging API (java.util.logging).

1. Logger

The Logger class gives strategies to logging. We can launch objects from the Logger class and call its techniques for logging purposes.

Let’s take an example.

Logger logger = Logger.getLogger("newLoggerName");

The getLogger() method of the Logger class is used to find or create a new Logger. The string argument defines the name of the logger.

Here, this creates a new Logger object or returns an existing Logger with the same name.

It is a convention to define a Logger after the current class using class.getName().

Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(MyClass.class.getName());

Note: This method will throw NullPointerException if the passed name is null.

Each Logger has a level that determines the importance of the log message. There are 7 basic log levels:

Log Level (in descending order)Use
SEVEREserious failure
WARNINGwarning message, a potential problem
INFOgeneral runtime information
CONFIGconfiguration information
FINEgeneral developer information (tracing messages)
FINERdetailed developer information (tracing messages)
FINESThighly detailed developer information(tracing messages)
OFFturn off logging for all levels (capture nothing)
ALLturn on logging for all levels (capture everything)

Each log level has an integer value that determines their severity except for two special log levels OFF and ALL.


Logging the message

By default, the best three log levels are constantly logged. To set an alternate level, we can use the accompanying code:

logger.setLevel(Level.LogLevel);

// example
logger.setLevel(Level.FINE);

In this example, only level FINE and levels above it are set to be logged. All other log messages are dropped.

Now to log a message, we use the log() method.

logger.log(Level.LogLevel, "log message");

// example
logger.log(Level.INFO, "This is INFO log level message");

There are shorthand methods for logging at desired levels.

logger.info( "This is INFO log level message");
logger.warning( "This is WARNING log level message");

All log requests that have passed the set log level are then forwarded to the LogRecord.

Note: If a logger’s level is set to null, its level is inherited from its parent and so on up the tree.


2. Filters

A filter (if it is present) decides if the LogRecord ought to be sent or not. As the name recommends, it filters the log messages as per explicit standards.

A LogRecord is just passed from the logger to the log overseer and from the log controller to outer frameworks in the event that it passes the predefined measures.

// set a filter
logger.setFilter(filter);

// get a filter
Filter filter = logger.getFilter();

3. Handlers(Appenders)

The log handler or the appenders receive the LogRecord and exports it to various targets.

Java SE provides 5 built-in handlers:

HandlersUse
StreamHandlerwrites to an OutputStream
ConsoleHandlerwrites to console
FileHandlerwrites to file
SocketHandlerwrites to remote TCP ports
MemoryHandlerwrites to memory

A handler can pass the LogRecord to a filter to again determine whether it can be forwarded to external systems or not.

To add a new handler, we use the following code:

logger.addHandler(handler);

// example
Handler handler = new ConsoleHandler();
logger.addHandler(handler);

To remove a handler, we use the following code:

logger.removeHandler(handler);

// example
Handler handler = new ConsoleHandler();
logger.addHandler(handler);
logger.removeHandler(handler);

A logger can have multiple handlers. To get all the handlers, we use the following code:

Handler[] handlers = logger.getHandlers();

4. Formatters

An overseer can likewise use a Formatter to organize the LogRecord object into a string before sending out it to outside systems.

Java SE has two built-in Formatters:

FormattersUse
SimpleFormatterformats LogRecord to string
XMLFormatterformats LogRecord to XML form

We can use the following code to format a handler:

// formats to string form
handler.setFormatter(new SimpleFormatter());

// formats to XML form
handler.setFormatter(new XMLFormatter());

LogManager

The LogManager object monitors the worldwide logging data. It peruses and keeps up the logging setup and the logger instances.

The log manager is a singleton, which implies that just one instance of it is started up.

To acquire the log manager case, we use the accompanying code:

LogManager manager = new LogManager();

Advantages of Logging

Here are some of the advantages of logging in Java.

  • helps in monitoring the flow of the program
  • helps in capturing any errors that may occur
  • provides support for problem diagnosis and debugging

Thanks for reading! We hope you found this tutorial helpful and we would love to hear your feedback in the Comments section below. And show us what you’ve learned by sharing your photos and creative projects with us.

salman khan

Written by worldofitech

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