The throws keyword for exceptions in Java

It tells the clients of your class that the DoBlah method can throw a BlahException or any other exception that extends it.

If it’s a checked exception, the compiler will require that they wrap calls to this method in a try/catch block. If it’s unchecked, they can choose to not catch the exception, but they have to be aware that if they don’t it’ll be bubbled further up the call stack.

It doesn’t say anything about unchecked exceptions like NullPointException or errors. Those can always be thrown as well. They aren’t required in the throws clause.

This code shows how it works:

ExceptionDemo.java:

package exceptions;

public class ExceptionDemo
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        ExceptionDemo demo = new ExceptionDemo();

        try
        {
            // Removing the try/catch will result in a compilation error
            demo.doChecked();            
        }
        catch (CheckedException e)
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        // Note: Not inside a try/catch, in spite of the throws clause
        demo.doUnchecked();
    }

    public void doChecked() throws CheckedException
    {
        System.out.println("doing something that may throw a checked exception");
    }

    // Note: "throws" clause is unnecessary for an unchecked exception
    public void doUnchecked() throws UncheckedException
    {
        System.out.println("doing something that may throw an unchecked exception");
    }
}

CheckedException.java:

package exceptions;

public class CheckedException extends Exception
{
    public CheckedException()
    {
        super();
    }

    public CheckedException(String message)
    {
        super(message);
    }

    public CheckedException(String message, Throwable cause)
    {
        super(message, cause);
    }

    public CheckedException(Throwable cause)
    {
        super(cause);
    }
}

UncheckedException.java:

package exceptions;

public class UncheckedException extends RuntimeException
{
    public UncheckedException()
    {
        super();
    }

    public UncheckedException(String message)
    {
        super(message);
    }

    public UncheckedException(String message, Throwable cause)
    {
        super(message, cause);
    }

    public UncheckedException(Throwable cause)
    {
        super(cause);
    }
}