class - java compiled classes contain dollar signs

Question

I've been using Eclipse as my development IDE. I also use it to export my application into a .jar file. When I look at my classes in the .jar file, a few of my classes contain the name of that class, a dollar sign, then a number. Example:

• Find$1.class
• Find$2.class
• Find$3.class
• Find.class

I've noticed it does this on bigger classes. Is this because the classes get so big, it compiles it into multiple classes? I've googled and looked on multiple forums, and search the Java Documentation but have not found anything even related to it. Could someone explain?

Answer 1

Inner classes, if any present in your class, will be compiled and the class file will be ClassName$InnerClassName. In case of Anonymous inner classes, it will appear as numbers. Size of the Class (Java Code) doesn't lead to generation of multiple classes.

E.g. given this piece of code:

public class TestInnerOuterClass {
    class TestInnerChild{

    }

    Serializable annoymousTest = new Serializable() {
    };
}

Classes which will be generated will be:

1. TestInnerOuterClass.class
2. TestInnerOuterClass$TestInnerChild.class
3. TestInnerOuterCasss$1.class

Update:

Using anonymous class is not considered a bad practice ,it just depends on the usage.

Check this discussion on SO