What are the Two Main Types of Exceptions in Java?

When programming in Java, it is important to understand the two main types of exceptions that can occur. Exceptions are errors that occur during the execution of a program. Knowing how to handle exceptions is essential for writing robust code. In this article, we will discuss the two main types of exceptions in Java and how to handle them.

What is an Exception?

An exception is an event that occurs during the execution of a program that disrupts the normal flow of instructions. Exceptions are usually caused by errors in the code, such as attempting to access an array element that does not exist. Exceptions can also be caused by external events, such as a network connection being lost.

When an exception occurs, the program is interrupted and an exception object is created. This object contains information about the exception, such as the type of exception and the line of code where the exception occurred.

Checked Exceptions

Checked exceptions are exceptions that are checked at compile time. This means that the compiler will detect the exception and generate an error if it is not handled. Checked exceptions must be handled in the code or declared in the method signature.

Checked exceptions are usually used for recoverable conditions, such as a file not found or a network connection being lost. These exceptions can be handled by the code, such as by prompting the user for a new file or attempting to reconnect to the network.

Unchecked Exceptions

Unchecked exceptions are exceptions that are not checked at compile time. This means that the compiler will not generate an error if the exception is not handled. Unchecked exceptions are usually used for unrecoverable conditions, such as a programming error or a hardware failure.

Unchecked exceptions cannot be handled by the code. Instead, they must be logged and the program must be terminated. This is because the program is in an unknown state and attempting to continue execution could lead to further errors.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the two main types of exceptions in Java: checked exceptions and unchecked exceptions. Checked exceptions are checked at compile time and must be handled in the code or declared in the method signature. Unchecked exceptions are not checked at compile time and cannot be handled by the code. Instead, they must be logged and the program must be terminated. Knowing how to handle exceptions is essential for writing robust code.