How can I find the JDK documentation and read it offline?

General Discussions
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1

I need to access the official JDK documentation and prefer to have an offline version. Where can I find javadocs downloads, and what steps should I follow to set them up for offline use?

2

The easiest way to get the official JDK documentation is to download it from Oracle’s website. Oracle provides the Javadoc as a .zip file, which you can extract and use offline.

Steps to Download: Go to the Oracle JDK Downloads.

Find the version you need (e.g., JDK 17 or JDK 21).

Look for a “Documentation” section and download the Javadoc API zip file.

Extract the zip, then open index.html inside the extracted folder using your web browser.

:heavy_check_mark: Pros: Official and up-to-date.

:x: Cons: Requires manual updates when new versions release.

3

If you’re using OpenJDK, you can also download the Javadoc separately from OpenJDK’s API docs. The steps are similar:

Steps for OpenJDK:

  1. Visit https://jdk.java.net.

  2. Select the JDK version you need.

  3. Find the “API Documentation” link.

  4. Download and extract it for offline usage.

Alternatively, some Linux distributions package Javadocs separately. You can install them with:

  • bash

  • Copy

  • Edit

  • sudo apt install openjdk-17-doc

:heavy_check_mark: Pros: Great for OpenJDK users, easy on Linux.

:x: Cons: Some distributions might not have the latest versions.

4

Instead of manually downloading Javadocs, most IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse can automatically download and integrate them.

For IntelliJ IDEA:

  1. Go to File → Project Structure → SDKs.

  2. Select your JDK and click Add Documentation URL.

  3. IntelliJ will fetch the Javadocs automatically.

For Eclipse:

  1. Open Window → Preferences → Java → Installed JREs.

  2. Select your JDK and add the Javadoc URL or offline folder.

:heavy_check_mark: Pros: Integrated directly into your IDE, searchable.

:x: Cons: Limited access outside of your IDE.