src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/ClassLoader.java

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       * @implNote The system property to override the system class loader is not
       * examined until the VM is almost fully initialized. Code that executes
       * this method during startup should take care not to cache the return
       * value until the system is fully initialized.
       *
+      * <p> The class path used by the built-in system class loader is determined
+      * by the system property "{@code java.class.path}" during early
+      * initialization of the VM. If the system property is not defined,
+      * or its value is an empty string, then there is no class path
+      * when the initial module is a module on the application module path,
+      * i.e. <em>a named module</em>. If the initial module is not on
+      * the application module path then the class path defaults to
+      * the current working directory.
+      *
       * @return  The system <tt>ClassLoader</tt> for delegation
       *
       * @throws  SecurityException
       *          If a security manager is present, and the caller's class loader
       *          is not {@code null} and is not the same as or an ancestor of the