What does a "Cannot find symbol" or "Cannot resolve symbol" error mean?

A "Cannot find symbol" or "Cannot resolve symbol" error in Java means that the compiler cannot find a symbol (such as a class, method, or variable) that it needs to complete the compilation. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

  1. The symbol is spelled incorrectly: Make sure that you have spelled the symbol correctly. Java is case-sensitive, so make sure that you have the correct capitalization.

  2. The symbol is not in the classpath: Make sure that the class or package that contains the symbol is in the classpath and can be found by the compiler.

  3. The symbol is not visible: Make sure that the symbol is visible from the current class or package. If the symbol is in a different package, you may need to import it or use the fully qualified name.

  4. The symbol has been deleted or modified: If you have recently deleted or modified the symbol, make sure that you have saved and compiled the changes.

  5. There is a problem with the class file: There could be a problem with the class file itself, such as corruption or a compile-time error. In this case, you will need to fix the problem and recompile the class.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.