compact3
javax.naming

## Class ReferralException

- java.lang.Object
- - java.lang.Throwable
  - - java.lang.Exception
    - - javax.naming.NamingException
      - - javax.naming.ReferralException

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    LdapReferralException

      public abstract class ReferralException
      extends NamingException

  This abstract class is used to represent a referral exception, which is generated in response to a referral such as that returned by LDAP v3 servers.

  A service provider provides a subclass of `ReferralException` by providing implementations for `getReferralInfo()` and `getReferralContext()` (and appropriate constructors and/or corresponding "set" methods).

  The following code sample shows how `ReferralException` can be used.

  > `while (true) { try { bindings = ctx.listBindings(name); while (bindings.hasMore()) { b = bindings.next(); ... } break; } catch (ReferralException e) { ctx = e.getReferralContext(); } }`

  `ReferralException` is an abstract class. Concrete implementations determine its synchronization and serialization properties.

  An environment parameter passed to the `getReferralContext()` method is owned by the caller. The service provider will not modify the object or keep a reference to it, but may keep a reference to a clone of it.

  Since:
    1.3
  See Also:
    Serialized Form

- - ### Field Summary

    - ### Fields inherited from class javax.naming.NamingException

      `remainingName, resolvedName, resolvedObj, rootException`

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor | Description
    --- | --- | ---
    `protected` | `ReferralException()` | Constructs a new instance of ReferralException.
    `protected` | `ReferralException(String explanation)` | Constructs a new instance of ReferralException using the explanation supplied.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method | Description
    --- | --- | ---
    `abstract Context` | `getReferralContext()` | Retrieves the context at which to continue the method.
    `abstract Context` | `getReferralContext(Hashtable<?,?> env)` | Retrieves the context at which to continue the method using environment properties.
    `abstract Object` | `getReferralInfo()` | Retrieves information (such as URLs) related to this referral.
    `abstract void` | `retryReferral()` | Retries the referral currently being processed.
    `abstract boolean` | `skipReferral()` | Discards the referral about to be processed.

    - ### Methods inherited from class javax.naming.NamingException

      `appendRemainingComponent, appendRemainingName, getCause, getExplanation, getRemainingName, getResolvedName, getResolvedObj, getRootCause, initCause, setRemainingName, setResolvedName, setResolvedObj, setRootCause, toString, toString`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Throwable

      `addSuppressed, fillInStackTrace, getLocalizedMessage, getMessage, getStackTrace, getSuppressed, printStackTrace, printStackTrace, printStackTrace, setStackTrace`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### ReferralException

          protected ReferralException(String explanation)

      Constructs a new instance of ReferralException using the explanation supplied. All other fields are set to null.
      Parameters:
        `explanation` - Additional detail about this exception. Can be null.
      See Also:
        `Throwable.getMessage()`

    - #### ReferralException

          protected ReferralException()

      Constructs a new instance of ReferralException. All fields are set to null.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getReferralInfo

          public abstract Object getReferralInfo()

      Retrieves information (such as URLs) related to this referral. The program may examine or display this information to the user to determine whether to continue with the referral, or to determine additional information needs to be supplied in order to continue with the referral.
      Returns:
        Non-null referral information related to this referral.

    - #### getReferralContext

          public abstract Context getReferralContext()
                                              throws NamingException

      Retrieves the context at which to continue the method. Regardless of whether a referral is encountered directly during a context operation, or indirectly, for example, during a search enumeration, the referral exception should provide a context at which to continue the operation. The referral context is created using the environment properties of the context that threw the ReferralException.

      To continue the operation, the client program should re-invoke the method using the same arguments as the original invocation.

      Returns:
        The non-null context at which to continue the method.
      Throws:
        `NamingException` - If a naming exception was encountered. Call either `retryReferral()` or `skipReferral()` to continue processing referrals.

    - #### getReferralContext

          public abstract Context getReferralContext(Hashtable<?,?> env)
                                              throws NamingException

      Retrieves the context at which to continue the method using environment properties. Regardless of whether a referral is encountered directly during a context operation, or indirectly, for example, during a search enumeration, the referral exception should provide a context at which to continue the operation.

      The referral context is created using `env` as its environment properties. This method should be used instead of the no-arg overloaded form when the caller needs to use different environment properties for the referral context. It might need to do this, for example, when it needs to supply different authentication information to the referred server in order to create the referral context.

      To continue the operation, the client program should re-invoke the method using the same arguments as the original invocation.

      Parameters:
        `env` - The possibly null environment to use when retrieving the referral context. If null, no environment properties will be used.
      Returns:
        The non-null context at which to continue the method.
      Throws:
        `NamingException` - If a naming exception was encountered. Call either `retryReferral()` or `skipReferral()` to continue processing referrals.

    - #### skipReferral

          public abstract boolean skipReferral()

      Discards the referral about to be processed. A call to this method should be followed by a call to `getReferralContext` to allow the processing of other referrals to continue. The following code fragment shows a typical usage pattern.

      >       } catch (ReferralException e) {
      >           if (!shallIFollow(e.getReferralInfo())) {
      >               if (!e.skipReferral()) {
      >                   return;
      >               }
      >           }
      >           ctx = e.getReferralContext();
      >       }

      Returns:
        true If more referral processing is pending; false otherwise.

    - #### retryReferral

          public abstract void retryReferral()

      Retries the referral currently being processed. A call to this method should be followed by a call to `getReferralContext` to allow the current referral to be retried. The following code fragment shows a typical usage pattern.

      >       } catch (ReferralException e) {
      >           while (true) {
      >               try {
      >                   ctx = e.getReferralContext(env);
      >                   break;
      >               } catch (NamingException ne) {
      >                   if (! shallIRetry()) {
      >                       return;
      >                   }
      >                   // modify environment properties (env), if necessary
      >                   e.retryReferral();
      >               }
      >           }
      >       }

Submit a bug or feature
For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java SE Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.
Copyright © 1993, 2026, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms. Also see the documentation redistribution policy.