Question

When you save an object in java (using serialize), where is the file created?

For example if you used this method http://www.rgagnon.com/javadetails/java-0075.html

Answer 1

If you are using the ObjectOutputStream for serialization and wrapping it around a FileOutputStream then the objects will go into that file.

For example (from the ObjectOutputStream Javadoc):

FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream("t.tmp");
ObjectOutputStream oos = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);

oos.writeInt(12345);
oos.writeObject("Today");
oos.writeObject(new Date());

oos.close();

This will create a file “t.tmp” in the working directory of the java application.

And about the working directory…
If you are using an IDE to launch your application then the working directory depends on where the IDE puts the compiled classes and how it runs your application.

You can use the following code to print the working directory:

File f = new File(".");
System.out.println(f.getAbsolutePath());

The “.” represents the “current” directory.