Eclipse - Java.Lang.Classnotfoundexception: Org.Springframework.Web.Servlet.Dispatcherservlet Inwards Tomcat

Problem : You are getting java.lang.ClassNotFoundException exception complaining that Spring's DispatcherServlet class is non available inwards the classpath. This fault is coming spell running a Spring MVC based Java application from Eclipse too Tomcat every bit Server (running within Eclipse IDE itself). You receive got either included jump framework JAR files manually past times yourself or you lot are using Maven to download too create create subject JAR files. Here is the stack describe of this fault :

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1678)
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1523)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.DefaultInstanceManager.loadClass(DefaultInstanceManager.java:525)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.DefaultInstanceManager.loadClassMaybePrivileged(DefaultInstanceManager.java:507)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.DefaultInstanceManager.newInstance(DefaultInstanceManager.java:126)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapper.loadServlet(StandardWrapper.java:1099)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapper.load(StandardWrapper.java:1043)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.loadOnStartup(StandardContext.java:4957

Cause of java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet

There are 2 primary receive of getting java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet fault inwards Eclipse :

1) First, either you lot don't receive got spring-webmvc-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar or similar JAR, depending upon which Spring framework version you lot are using e.g. Spring 4.0

2) Second is, Eclipse is non able to uncovering this dependency inwards CLASSPATH.


But earlier going into those, let's start understand
what is org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet class? too why it is required?.

This degree is genuinely the front end controller inwards Spring MVC framework, all HTTP requests acquire via this degree to dissimilar controller classes. You define this degree to map against a URL designing inwards the web.xml file using load-on-startup tag, that's why you lot run across that loadOnStartup() call on stack trace of this error. 


This is why when you lot deploy your Spring MVC based spider web application inwards Tomcat, the WebAppClassLoader search for org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet degree inwards degree loader's CLASSPATH, which is WEB-INF/lib folder of your Java Web application.


If it doesn't institute this degree within whatsoever JAR file inwards WEB-INF/lib, it throws java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet.


If you lot are novel to Spring, you lot tin likewise receive got a await at Spring inwards Action book, ane of the amend books to acquire basics of Spring framework too Spring MVC together. The 4th edition of this mass likewise covers Spring 4.

Now let's run across how to solve this problem.

How to Fix java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet inwards Tomcat too Eclipse

Here are unopen to steps you lot tin receive got to bargain alongside this fault inwards Tomcat within Eclipse IDE :

1) If you lot are using Maven too if spring-webmvc is non added every bit a dependency inwards your project's pom.xml too hence delight add together that. Once you lot create that, create your projection using mvn install or mvn build. This volition download jump MVC JAR files too unopen to other dependency.


2) The minute measuring is to add together Maven Dependency into deployment assembly. This is required to motion all subject JAR files into WEB-INF/lib directory of Java spider web application.

In gild to add together Maven Dependency into deployment assembly inwards Eclipse, follow below steps :

i) Right-click your project, select properties too conduct Deployment Assembly.

ii)  Now click Add too conduct Java Build Path Entries too select Maven dependency theirs. If your projection is non laid for the automatic create too hence only refresh the projection too create it.

Now you lot should endure able to run your Spring MVC application inwards attached Tomcat from Eclipse IDE itself.

3) If this doesn't gear upward your work too hence create a Maven clean, followed past times Maven create to regenerate WAR file.


That's all close how to gear upward java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet fault inwards Eclipse too Tomcat. It's likewise possible that you lot acquire this fault exterior Eclipse IDE when you lot are deploying your WAR file inwards unopen to other environment. That fourth dimension you lot must cheque whether relevant JAR file e.g. spring-webmvc-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar exists inwards either WEB-INF/lib directory of your application or Tomcat/lib directory. It's amend to perish on inwards WEB-INF/lib directory because when you lot undeploy all the classes loaded past times WebAppClassLoader are eligible for garbage collection, which is non the representative for JAR files loaded from Tomcat's lib directory. That tin receive PermGen Memory leak inwards Tomcat.

Further Reading
Spring Framework 5: Beginner to Guru
Spring Master Class - Beginner to Expert
Introduction to Spring MVC 4 By Bryan Hansen
Spring too Hibernate for Beginners
Spring inwards Action 4th edition past times Craig Walls

P.S. - If you lot desire to acquire how to prepare RESTful Web Service using Spring MVC inwards depth, I propose you lot bring together the REST alongside Spring certification class past times Eugen Paraschiv. One of the best course of written report to acquire REST alongside Spring MVC. 

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