For each type it loads, a Java Virtual Machine must keep track of whether or not the type was loaded via the primordial class loader or a class loader object. For those types loaded via a class loader object, the virtual machine must store a reference to the class loader object that loaded the type. This information is stored as part of the type's data in the method area.
每个类型被装载的时候，虚拟机必须跟踪它是由启动类装载器还是由用户自定义类装载器装载的。如果是用户自定义类装载器装载的，那么虚拟机必须在类型信息中存储对该类装载器的引用。这是作为方法表中的类型数据的一部分保存的。
The virtual machine uses this information during dynamic linking. When one type refers to another type, the virtual machine requests the referenced type from the same class loader that loaded the referencing type. This process of dynamic linking is also central to the way the virtual machine forms separate name spaces. To be able to properly perform dynamic linking and maintain multiple name spaces, the virtual machine needs to know what class loader loaded each type in its method area. The details of dynamic linking and name spaces are given in Chapter 8, "The Linking Model."
虚拟机会在动态连接期间使用这个信息。当某个类型引用另一个类型的时候，虚拟机会请求装载发起引用类型的类装载器来装载被引用的类型。这个动态连接的过程，对于虚拟机分离命名空间的方式也是至关重要的。为了能够正确地执行动态连接以及维护多个命名空间，虚拟机需要在方法表中得知每个类都是由哪个类装载器装载的。