A method and system for automated root-cause analysis for failures in class loading in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) environment. Specifically, a class loader comprises a class loader for loading classes which comprises an identifier, a search policy object, a configuration policy object, and metadata. The identifier is unique to the JVM environment. The search policy object defines search procedures for discovering and loading a class by the class loader. The configuration policy object manages configuration of the class loader. Metadata describes the interrelationships between the class loader to other class loaders in a class loader tree supporting the JVM environment.