java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener in eclipse

Question

I am doing a simple Spring MVC application(not using maven) which will print hello world on browser. It is a dynamic project in eclipse, so I put all the required jar files IN both build path as well as in WEB-INF/lib folder

I tried two solutions and both didn't work.

Solutions I found:

1. cleaning tomcat work directory
2. putting spring-mvc/spring-web.jar jar file in lib

Here is my web.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<web-app>

    <display-name>Spring MVC Application</display-name>

    <servlet>
        <servlet-name>mvc-dispatcher</servlet-name>
        <servlet-class>org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet</servlet-class>
        <load-on-startup>1</load-on-startup>
    </servlet>

    <servlet-mapping>
        <servlet-name>mvc-dispatcher</servlet-name>
        <url-pattern>/</url-pattern>
    </servlet-mapping>

    <context-param>
        <param-name>contextConfigLocation</param-name>
        <param-value>/WEB-INF/mvc-dispatcher-servlet.xml</param-value>
    </context-param>

    <listener>
        <listener-class>org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener</listener-class>
    </listener>

</web-app>

and there is no typo mistake in configuring the contextLoaderListener, then what is the problem, is there any other solution

Jan 20, 2014 8:16:39 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService startInternal
INFO: Starting service Catalina
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:39 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine startInternal
INFO: Starting Servlet Engine: Apache Tomcat/7.0.11
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext listenerStart
SEVERE: Error configuring application listener of class org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1676)
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1521)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.DefaultInstanceManager.loadClass(DefaultInstanceManager.java:415)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.DefaultInstanceManager.loadClassMaybePrivileged(DefaultInstanceManager.java:397)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.DefaultInstanceManager.newInstance(DefaultInstanceManager.java:118)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.listenerStart(StandardContext.java:4618)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext$1.call(StandardContext.java:5184)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext$1.call(StandardContext.java:5179)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext listenerStart
SEVERE: Skipped installing application listeners due to previous error(s)
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext startInternal
SEVERE: Error listenerStart
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext startInternal
SEVERE: Context [/SpringSample] startup failed due to previous errors
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocolHandler start
INFO: Starting ProtocolHandler ["http-bio-8081"]
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocolHandler start
INFO: Starting ProtocolHandler ["ajp-bio-8009"]
Jan 20, 2014 8:16:40 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 4010 ms

eventually I am getting 404 error as my service is failed to loaded

Answer 1

I had this same problem in Eclipse. When I would do a maven clean install and move the generated WAR file to my Tomcat webapp folder it would run with no problems. However, inorder to debug I wanted to run in Eclipse but it would throw the following error.

SEVERE: Error configuring application listener of class   org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener

I googled around until I found the following blog post.

http://commonexceptions.blogspot.com/2014/01/java.html

As the author explains:

This exception was caused when i did not add the maven dependencies to the build path. I was using eclipse with maven, so had to include the maven dependencies in the build path as explained below.

See the post for the solution. It is a simple eclipse Deployment Assembly configuration fix. Took me about 30 seconds and now I can debug my Spring webapp in Eclipse.

Here are the relevant steps from the post:

Adding Maven dependencies in project web deployment assembly :

• Open project properties(example: In project explorer rightClick on project name to select "Properties").
• Select "Deployment Assembly".
• Click "Add..." button on the right navigation.
• Select "Java Build Path Entries" from menu of Directive Type and then click "Next".
• Select "Maven Dependencies" from Java Build Path Entries menu
• click "Finish".
• Now the "Maven Dependencies" should be added to the Web Deployment Assembly and it should run.

When using Eclipse WDT and using unmodified and previously working project :

• If Tomcat is running Stop it
• Open the "Servers" view: Window then select "Show view" and then select "Other" > Server > Servers
• Right Click on the Tomcat Server and then select "Clean Tomcat Work Directory".
• Right Click on the Tomcat Server and then select "Clean"
• Restart the Tomcat Server

The above solution should resolve the exception.