Java compilation through command prompt issue

Question

I tried to compile my class file "checker.class" into "checker.java" through the use of the javac command, planning to run it with the java command, but javac either gave me the issue of "file not found" OR "invalid flag" (when I tried to put checker in quotations.) I would also like to understand the issue itself better and not just know the solution. Thanks.

What I attempted:

C:\Users\jaede\Desktop\everything>javac checker.class

C:\Users\jaede\Desktop\everything>javac "checker.class"

Results with error messages:

1. error: file not found: Checker.java Usage: javac use --help for a list of possible options

   2. error: invalid flag: Checker.class Usage: javac

   use --help for a list of possible options

planned to do:

C:\Users\jaede\Desktop\everything>java checker.java

*Sidenote: I probably do not have an environment variable issue, since I could run this with another.java files with the java command

Answer 1

I got.class and.java mixed up. The comments to the original post have the full rundown.