Exception Handling in Java

The Exception Handling in Java is one of the powerful mechanism to handle the runtime
errors so that normal flow of the application can be maintained.

What is Exception in Java

Dictionary Meaning: Exception is an abnormal condition.

In Java, an exception is an event that disrupts the normal flow of the program. It is an object
which is thrown at runtime.

Let's take a scenario:

statement 1;
statement 2;
statement 3;
statement 4;

statement 5;//exception occurs

statement 6;
statement 7;
statement 8;
statement 9;
statement 10;

Suppose there are 10 statements in your program and there occurs an exception at statement 5,
the rest of the code will not be executed i.e. statement 6 to 10 will not be executed. If we perform
exception handling, the rest of the statement will be executed. That is why we use exception
handling in Java.
Hierarchy of Java Exception classes

 The java.lang.Throwable class is the root class of Java Exception hierarchy which is
inherited by two subclasses: Exception and Error.
 A hierarchy of Java Exception classes are given below:
Difference between Checked and Unchecked Exceptions
1) Checked Exception
The classes which directly inherit Throwable class except RuntimeException and Error are known as checked
exceptions e.g. IOException, SQLException etc. Checked exceptions are checked at compile-time.

2) Unchecked Exception
The classes which inherit RuntimeException are known as unchecked exceptions e.g. ArithmeticException,
NullPointerException, ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException etc. Unchecked exceptions are not checked at
compile-time, but they are checked at runtime.

3) Error
Error is irrecoverable e.g. OutOfMemoryError, VirtualMachineError, AssertionError etc.

Java Exception Keywords

There are 5 keywords which are used in handling exceptions in Java.

Keyword Description

try The "try" keyword is used to specify a block where we should place exception code. The try
block must be followed by either catch or finally. It means, we can't use try block alone.

catch The "catch" block is used to handle the exception. It must be preceded by try block which
means we can't use catch block alone. It can be followed by finally block later.

finally The "finally" block is used to execute the important code of the program. It is executed
whether an exception is handled or not.

throw The "throw" keyword is used to throw an exception.

throws The "throws" keyword is used to declare exceptions. It doesn't throw an exception. It
specifies that there may occur an exception in the method. It is always used with method
signature.
 Java Exception Handling Example
Let's see an example of Java Exception Handling where we using a try-catch statement to
handle the exception.

1. public class JavaExceptionExample{

2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. //code that may raise exception
5. int data=100/0;
6. }catch(ArithmeticException e){System.out.println(e);}
7. //rest code of the program
8. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
9. }
10. }

Output:

Exception in thread main java.lang.ArithmeticException:/ by zero

rest of the code...

In the above example, 100/0 raises an ArithmeticException which is handled by a try-catch

block.

Common Scenarios of Java Exceptions

There are given some scenarios where unchecked exceptions may occur. They are as
follows:

1) A scenario where ArithmeticException occurs

If we divide any number by zero, there occurs an ArithmeticException.

1. int a=50/0;//ArithmeticException

2) A scenario where NullPointerException occurs

If we have a null value in any variable, performing any operation on the variable throws a
NullPointerException.

1. String s=null;
2. System.out.println(s.length());//NullPointerException
 3) A scenario where NumberFormatException occurs

The wrong formatting of any value may occur NumberFormatException. Suppose I have a
string variable that has characters, converting this variable into digit will occur
NumberFormatException.

1. String s="abc";
2. int i=Integer.parseInt(s);//NumberFormatException

4) A scenario where ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException occurs

If you are inserting any value in the wrong index, it would result in
ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException as shown below:

1. int a[]=new int[5];

2. a[10]=50; //ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException

Java try-catch
Java try block
Java try block is used to enclose the code that might throw an exception. It must be used
within the method.

Java try block must be followed by either catch or finally block.

Syntax of java try-catch

1. try{
2. //code that may throw exception
3. }catch(Exception_class_Name ref){}
Syntax of try-finally block
1. try{
2. //code that may throw exception
3. }finally{}

Java catch block

Java catch block is used to handle the Exception. It must be used after the try block only.

You can use multiple catch block with a single try.

 Problem without exception handling
Let's try to understand the problem if we don't use try-catch block.

1. public class Testtrycatch1{

2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int data=50/0;//may throw exception
4. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
5. }
6. }
Output:

Exception in thread main java.lang.ArithmeticException:/ by zero

 As displayed in the above example, rest of the code is not executed (in such
case, rest of the code... statement is not printed).
 There can be 100 lines of code after exception. So all the code after exception
will not be executed.
 The JVM firstly checks whether the exception is handled or not. If exception is not handled,
JVM provides a default exception handler that performs the following tasks:

o Prints out exception description.

o Prints the stack trace (Hierarchy of methods where the exception occurred).
o Causes the program to terminate.

But if exception is handled by the application programmer, normal flow of the application is
maintained i.e. rest of the code is executed.

Java catch multiple exceptions

Java Multi catch block

If you have to perform different tasks at the occurrence of different Exceptions, use java
multi catch block.

Let's see a simple example of java multi-catch block.

1. public class TestMultipleCatchBlock{

2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. int a[]=new int[5];
5. a[5]=30/0;
6. }
7. catch(ArithmeticException e){System.out.println("task1 is completed");}
8. catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){System.out.println("task 2 completed");}
9. catch(Exception e){System.out.println("common task completed");}
10.
11. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
12. }
13. }

Output:task1 completed
rest of the code...
 Rule1: At a time only one Exception is occurred and at a time only one catch block is
executed.

Rule2: All catch blocks must be ordered from most specific to most general i.e. catch for
Arithmetic Exception must come before catch for Exception.

1. class TestMultipleCatchBlock1{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. int a[]=new int[5];
5. a[5]=30/0;
6. }
7. catch(Exception e){System.out.println("common task completed");}
8. catch(ArithmeticException e){System.out.println("task1 is completed");}
9. catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){System.out.println("task 2 completed");}
10. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
11. }
12. }

Output:

Compile-time error

Java Nested try block

The try block within a try block is known as nested try block in java.

Why use nested try block

Sometimes a situation may arise where a part of a block may cause one error and the entire
block itself may cause another error. In such cases, exception handlers have to be nested.

1. class Excep6{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. try{
5. System.out.println("going to divide");
6. int b =39/0;
7. }catch(ArithmeticException e){System.out.println(e);}
8. try{
9. int a[]=new int[5];
10. a[5]=4;
11. }catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){System.out.println(e);}
12. System.out.println("other statement);
13. }catch(Exception e){System.out.println("handeled");}
14. System.out.println("normal flow..");
15. }
16. }

Java finally block

Java finally block is a block that is used to execute important code such as closing
connection, stream etc.

Java finally block is always executed whether exception is handled or not.

Java finally block follows try or catch block.

 Rule: For each try block there can be zero or more catch blocks, but only one finally block.

Note: The finally block will not be executed if program exits(either by calling System.exit() or
by causing a fatal error that causes the process to abort).

Note: If you don't handle exception, before terminating the program, JVM executes finally
block(if any)

Usage of Java finally

Let's see the different cases where java finally block can be used.
Case 1
Let's see the java finally example where exception doesn't occur.
1. class TestFinallyBlock{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. int data=25/5;
5. System.out.println(data);
6. }
7. catch(NullPointerException e){System.out.println(e);}
8. finally{System.out.println("finally block is always executed");}
9. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
10. }
11. }
Output:5
finally block is always executed

Case 2
Let's see the java finally example where exception occurs and not handled.

1. class TestFinallyBlock1{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. int data=25/0;
5. System.out.println(data);
6. }
7. catch(NullPointerException e){System.out.println(e);}
8. finally{System.out.println("finally block is always executed");}
9. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
10. }
11. }
 Output:finally block is always executed
Exception in thread main java.lang.ArithmeticException:/ by zero
rest of the code...

Case 3
Let's see the java finally example where exception occurs and handled.

1. public class TestFinallyBlock2{

2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. try{
4. int data=25/0;
5. System.out.println(data);
6. }
7. catch(ArithmeticException e){System.out.println(e);}
8. finally{System.out.println("finally block is always executed");}
9. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
10. }
11. }

Output:Exception in thread main java.lang.ArithmeticException:/ by zero

finally block is always executed
rest of the code...

Java throw keyword

The Java throw keyword is used to explicitly throw an exception.

We can throw either checked or uncheked exception in java by throw keyword. The throw
keyword is mainly used to throw custom exception. We will see custom exceptions later.

java throw keyword example

In this example, we have created the validate method that takes integer value as a
parameter. If the age is less than 18, we are throwing the ArithmeticException otherwise
print a message welcome to vote.

1. public class TestThrow1{

2. static void validate(int age){
3. if(age<18)
4. throw new ArithmeticException("not valid");
5. else
6. System.out.println("welcome to vote");
7. }
8. public static void main(String args[]){
9. validate(13);
10. System.out.println("rest of the code...");
11. }
12. }

Output:

Exception in thread main java.lang.ArithmeticException:not valid

Java Exception propagation

An exception is first thrown from the top of the stack and if it is not caught, it drops down
the call stack to the previous method,If not caught there, the exception again drops down to
the previous method, and so on until they are caught or until they reach the very bottom of
the call stack.This is called exception propagation.

Rule: By default Unchecked Exceptions are forwarded in calling chain (propagated).

Program of Exception Propagation

1. class TestExceptionPropagation1{
2. void m(){
3. int data=50/0;
4. }
5. void n(){
6. m();
7. }
8. void p(){
9. try{
10. n();
11. }catch(Exception e){System.out.println("exception handled");}
12. }
13. public static void main(String args[]){
14. TestExceptionPropagation1 obj=new TestExceptionPropagation1();
15. obj.p();
16. System.out.println("normal flow...");
17. }
18. }

Output:exception handled
normal flow...
 In the above example exception occurs in m() method where it is not handled, so it is propagated
to previous n() method where it is not handled, again it is propagated to p() method where
exception is handled.

Exception can be handled in any method in call stack either in main() method,p() method,n()
method or m() method.

Rule: By default, Checked Exceptions are not forwarded in calling chain (propagated).

Program which describes that checked exceptions are not propagated

1. class TestExceptionPropagation2{
2. void m(){
3. throw new java.io.IOException("device error");//checked exception
4. }
5. void n(){
6. m();
7. }
8. void p(){
9. try{
10. n();
11. }catch(Exception e){System.out.println("exception handeled");}
12. }
13. public static void main(String args[]){
14. TestExceptionPropagation2 obj=new TestExceptionPropagation2();
15. obj.p();
16. System.out.println("normal flow");
17. }
18. }

Output: Compile Time Error

 Java throws keyword
The Java throws keyword is used to declare an exception. It gives an information to the
programmer that there may occur an exception so it is better for the programmer to provide the
exception handling code so that normal flow can be maintained.

Exception Handling is mainly used to handle the checked exceptions. If there occurs any
unchecked exception such as NullPointerException, it is programmers fault that he is not
performing check up before the code being used.

Syntax of java throws

1. return_type method_name() throws exception_class_name{
2. //method code
3. }

Which exception should be declared

Ans) checked exception only, because:

o unchecked Exception: under your control so correct your code.

o error: beyond your control e.g. you are unable to do anything if there occurs
VirtualMachineError or StackOverflowError.

Advantage of Java throws keyword

Now Checked Exception can be propagated (forwarded in call stack).

It provides information to the caller of the method about the exception.

Java throws example

Let's see the example of java throws clause which describes that checked exceptions can be
propagated by throws keyword.

1. import java.io.IOException;
2. class Testthrows1{
3. void m()throws IOException{
4. throw new IOException("device error");//checked exception
5. }
6. void n()throws IOException{
7. m();
8. }
9. void p(){
10. try{
11. n();
12. }catch(Exception e){System.out.println("exception handled");}
13. }
14. public static void main(String args[]){
15. Testthrows1 obj=new Testthrows1();
16. obj.p();
17. System.out.println("normal flow...");
18. }
19. }
Output:
exception handled
normal flow...

Rule: If you are calling a method that declares an exception, you must either caught or
declare the exception.

There are two cases:

1. Case1:You caught the exception i.e. handle the exception using try/catch.
2. Case2:You declare the exception i.e. specifying throws with the method.

Case1: You handle the exception

o In case you handle the exception, the code will be executed fine whether exception
occurs during the program or not.

1. import java.io.*;
2. class M{
3. void method()throws IOException{
4. throw new IOException("device error");
5. }
6. }
7. public class Testthrows2{
8. public static void main(String args[]){
9. try{
10. M m=new M();
11. m.method();
12. }catch(Exception e){System.out.println("exception handled");}
13.
14. System.out.println("normal flow...");
15. }
16. }

Output:exception handled
normal flow...
 Case2: You declare the exception
o A)In case you declare the exception, if exception does not occur, the code will be
executed fine.
o B)In case you declare the exception if exception occures, an exception will be thrown at
runtime because throws does not handle the exception.

A)Program if exception does not occur

1. import java.io.*;
2. class M{
3. void method()throws IOException{
4. System.out.println("device operation performed");
5. }
6. }
7. class Testthrows3{
8. public static void main(String args[])throws IOException{//declare exception
9. M m=new M();
10. m.method();
11.
12. System.out.println("normal flow...");
13. }
14. }

Output:device operation performed

normal flow...

B)Program if exception occurs

1. import java.io.*;
2. class M{
3. void method()throws IOException{
4. throw new IOException("device error");
5. }
6. }
7. class Testthrows4{
8. public static void main(String args[])throws IOException{//declare exception
9. M m=new M();
10. m.method();
11.
12. System.out.println("normal flow...");
13. }
14. }

Output:Runtime Exception
 Java final example

1. class FinalExample{
2. public static void main(String[] args){
3. final int x=100;
4. x=200;//Compile Time Error
5. }}
Java finally example

1. class FinallyExample{
2. public static void main(String[] args){
3. try{
4. int x=300;
5. }catch(Exception e){System.out.println(e);}
6. finally{System.out.println("finally block is executed");}
7. }}
Java finalize example

1. class FinalizeExample{
2. public void finalize(){System.out.println("finalize called");}
3. public static void main(String[] args){
4. FinalizeExample f1=new FinalizeExample();
5. FinalizeExample f2=new FinalizeExample();
6. f1=null;
7. f2=null;
8. System.gc();
9. }}

Exception Handling with Method Overriding in Java

There are many rules if we talk about method overriding with exception handling. The Rules are
as follows:

o If the superclass method does not declare an exception

o If the superclass method does not declare an exception, subclass overridden
method cannot declare the checked exception but it can declare unchecked
exception.
o If the superclass method declares an exception
o If the superclass method declares an exception, subclass overridden method
can declare same, subclass exception or no exception but cannot declare parent
exception.

A. If the superclass method does not declare an exception

1) Rule: If the superclass method does not declare an exception, subclass overridden method
cannot declare the checked exception.

1. import java.io.*;
2. class Parent{
3. void msg(){System.out.println("parent");}
4. }
5.
6. class TestExceptionChild extends Parent{
7. void msg()throws IOException{
8. System.out.println("TestExceptionChild");
9. }
10. public static void main(String args[]){
11. Parent p=new TestExceptionChild();
12. p.msg();
13. }
14. }

Output: Compile Time Error

 2) Rule: If the superclass method does not declare an exception, subclass overridden method
cannot declare the checked exception but can declare unchecked exception.

1. import java.io.*;
2. class Parent{
3. void msg(){System.out.println("parent");}
4. }
5. class TestExceptionChild1 extends Parent{
6. void msg()throws ArithmeticException{
7. System.out.println("child");
8. }
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Parent p=new TestExceptionChild1();
11. p.msg();
12. }
13. }

Output: child

B. If the superclass method declares an exception

1) Rule: If the superclass method declares an exception, subclass overridden method can declare
same, subclass exception or no exception but cannot declare parent exception.

Example in case subclass overridden method declares parent exception

1. import java.io.*;
2. class Parent{
3. void msg()throws ArithmeticException{System.out.println("parent");}
4. }
5.
6. class TestExceptionChild2 extends Parent{
7. void msg()throws Exception{System.out.println("child");}
8.
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Parent p=new TestExceptionChild2();
11. try{
12. p.msg();
13. }catch(Exception e){}
14. }
15. }

Output: Compile Time Error

 Example in case subclass overridden method declares same exception
1. import java.io.*;
2. class Parent{
3. void msg()throws Exception{System.out.println("parent");}
4. }
5.
6. class TestExceptionChild3 extends Parent{
7. void msg()throws Exception{System.out.println("child");}
8.
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Parent p=new TestExceptionChild3();
11. try{
12. p.msg();
13. }catch(Exception e){}
14. }
15. }

Output:child

Example in case subclass overridden method declares subclass exception

1. import java.io.*;
2. class Parent{
3. void msg()throws Exception{System.out.println("parent");}
4. }
5.
6. class TestExceptionChild4 extends Parent{
7. void msg()throws ArithmeticException{System.out.println("child");}
8.
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Parent p=new TestExceptionChild4();
11. try{
12. p.msg();
13. }catch(Exception e){}
14. }
15. }

Output:child

Example in case subclass overridden method declares no exception

1. import java.io.*;
2. class Parent{
3. void msg()throws Exception{System.out.println("parent");}
4. }
5.
6. class TestExceptionChild5 extends Parent{
7. void msg(){System.out.println("child");}
8.
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Parent p=new TestExceptionChild5();
11. try{
12. p.msg();
13. }catch(Exception e){}
14. }
15. }

Output:child
 User-defined/Custom Exceptions
You can create your own exceptions in Java. Keep the following points in mind when writing
your own exception classes −

 All exceptions must be a child of Throwable.

 If you want to write a checked exception that is automatically enforced by the Handle or
Declare Rule, you need to extend the Exception class.

 If you want to write a runtime exception, you need to extend the RuntimeException
class.

Example 1:
// File Name InsufficientFundsException.java
import java.io.*;

public class InsufficientFundsException extends Exception {

private double amount;

public InsufficientFundsException(double amount) {

this.amount = amount;
}

public double getAmount() {

return amount;
}
}
// File Name CheckingAccount.java
import java.io.*;

public class CheckingAccount {

private double balance;
private int number;
 public CheckingAccount(int number) {
this.number = number;
}

public void deposit(double amount) {

balance += amount;
}

public void withdraw(double amount) throws InsufficientFundsException {

if(amount <= balance) {
balance -= amount;
}else {
double needs = amount - balance;
throw new InsufficientFundsException(needs);
}
}

public double getBalance() {

return balance;
}

public int getNumber() {

return number;
}
}
// File Name BankDemo.java
public class BankDemo {

public static void main(String [] args) {

CheckingAccount c = new CheckingAccount(101);
System.out.println("Depositing $500...");
c.deposit(500.00);
 try {
System.out.println("\nWithdrawing $100...");
c.withdraw(100.00);
System.out.println("\nWithdrawing $600...");
c.withdraw(600.00);
}catch(InsufficientFundsException e) {
System.out.println("Sorry, but you are short $" + e.getAmount());
e.printStackTrace();
}
}}

Example 2:
class InvalidAgeException extends Exception{
InvalidAgeException(String s){
super(s);
}
}
class TestCustomException1{

static void validate(int age)throws InvalidAgeException{

if(age<18)
throw new InvalidAgeException("not valid");
else
System.out.println("welcome to vote");
}

public static void main(String args[]){

try{
validate(13);
}catch(Exception m){System.out.println("Exception occured: "+m);}

System.out.println("rest of the code...");

}
}