What causes and what are the differences between NoClassDefFoundError and ClassNotFoundException?

The difference from the Java API Specifications is as follows.

For ClassNotFoundException:

Thrown when an application tries to
load in a class through its string
name using:

• The forName method in class Class.
• The findSystemClass method in class ClassLoader.
• The loadClass method in class ClassLoader.

but no definition for the class with
the specified name could be found.

For NoClassDefFoundError:

Thrown if the Java Virtual Machine or
a ClassLoader instance tries to load
in the definition of a class (as part
of a normal method call or as part of
creating a new instance using the new
expression) and no definition of the
class could be found.

The searched-for class definition
existed when the currently executing
class was compiled, but the definition
can no longer be found.

So, it appears that the NoClassDefFoundError occurs when the source was successfully compiled, but at runtime, the required class files were not found. This may be something that can happen in the distribution or production of JAR files, where not all the required class files were included.

As for ClassNotFoundException, it appears that it may stem from trying to make reflective calls to classes at runtime, but the classes the program is trying to call is does not exist.

The difference between the two is that one is an Error and the other is an Exception. With NoClassDefFoundError is an Error and it arises from the Java Virtual Machine having problems finding a class it expected to find. A program that was expected to work at compile-time can’t run because of class files not being found, or is not the same as was produced or encountered at compile-time. This is a pretty critical error, as the program cannot be initiated by the JVM.

On the other hand, the ClassNotFoundException is an Exception, so it is somewhat expected, and is something that is recoverable. Using reflection is can be error-prone (as there is some expectations that things may not go as expected. There is no compile-time check to see that all the required classes exist, so any problems with finding the desired classes will appear at runtime.