Clarification Regarding Java Program Entry Point and Static Block Execution

[Karan Sharma]

Dear Oracle Java Documentation Team,

I hope this message finds you well.

I have been studying Java and came across the commonly stated guideline
that the main(String[] args) method serves as the entry point for all Java
applications. However, during experimentation and further reading, I
observed that static blocks in a Java class are executed before the main()
method, and in some cases, it is even possible to run logic using only
static blocks without defining a main() method (such as in earlier versions
of Java or with specific class loaders).

This leads me to a conceptual query:
If static blocks are executed prior to main(), and code within them can run
independently, is it still fully accurate to say that the main method is
the only entry point of a Java program?

I understand that main() serves as the starting point for execution in
standard standalone Java applications. However, since there are cases
(e.g., static initialization, frameworks, reflection) where control can
begin before or without main(), I believe it may be valuable to clarify
this nuance in the official documentation — especially for learners trying
to deeply understand Java's execution model.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or thoughts from your side on this
topic.

Thank you for maintaining such comprehensive resources for Java developers
worldwide.

Warm regards,
Karan Kumar
karan03945 at gmail.com
B.Tech Student | Java Enthusiast
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