Java6 added a new utility class for reading input data from character based devices including command line. java.io.Console can be used to read input from command line, but unfortunately it doesn't work on most of IDE like Eclipse and Netbeans. As per Javadoc call to System.Console() will return attached console to JVM, if it has been started interactive command prompt or it will return null if JVM has been started using a background process or scheduler job. Anyway java.io.Console not only provides way to read input from command prompt or Console but also reading passwords from console without echoing it. Console.readPassword() method reads password and returns a character array and password is masked during entering so that any peeping tom can not see your password while you are entering it. here is a code example of How to read password and input from command prompt or console using java.io.Console. By the way apart from Console, you can also use Scanner or BufferedReader to read input from command prompt, as shown in this example.