# ARQ - The `java:` URI scheme

ARQ uses URIs of the form `<java:package.class>` to provide dynamic loading of code for value functions and property functions. ARQ loads the class when needed. For functions and property functions, it also wraps it in the necessary factory code. A new instance of the function or property function is created for each mention of the name in each query.

## Dynamic Code Loading

Any classes loaded by ARQ must already be on the java classpath. ARQ does not create any new class loaders, nor modify the Java class path in any way. The class path must be set up to include any class files or jar files for dynamically loaded code.

Classes can be mor conveniently named in queries using SPARQL `PREFIX`es but because dots can't appear in the local part of a prefixed name, all the package name and the final dot must be in the `PREFIX` declaration.

    PREFIX fn: <java:org.example.functions.>    # Including the final dot
    ...
      FILTER fn:alter(?x)
    ...

## Remapping

All code loading is performed via the `MappedLoader` class. Before actually loading the code, the mapped loader applies any transformation of URIs. For example, the ARQ function library has a namespace of `<http://jena.hpl.hp.com/ARQ/function#>` and resides in the Java package com.hp.hpl.jena.sparql.function.library. The mapped loader includes a partial rewrite rule turning http URLs starting with that namespace into java: URIs using the package name.

ARQ Documentation Page