[FIXED] How best to access a file from resources folder

Issue

In a java project I need to access a file from the resources folder. I am able to do so in the following 3 ways:

// 1
new File("src/main/resources/a.txt")
// 2
new URL("file:src/main/resources/a.txt")
// 3
getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("a.txt")

All these approaches seem to work. Is any of these approaches preferential?

Solution

The third one is the only one that will work once your program will be packaged (Jar or War).

Answered By - gervais.b
Answer Checked By - Mildred Charles (JavaFixing Admin)