The Java ClassLoader is a part of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) responsible for loading class files into memory during runtime. It dynamically loads classes when they are referenced in the program, helping to manage memory and ensuring that the necessary classes are available when needed. Java ClassLoader can load classes from local file systems, networks, or other sources. Introduced in Java 1995 with Java 1.0, the ClassLoader system enables Java's dynamic class loading mechanism, which is vital for features like Reflection and dynamic proxies.

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/ClassLoader.html