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Multiple Catch Blocks

Intermediate ~15 min read

Sometimes a block of code can generate more than one type of exception. Java allowing you to use multiple catch blocks to handle different errors differently.

Syntax

try {
  //  Block of code
}
catch(ArithmeticException e) {
  //  Handle Math errors
}
catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
  //  Handle Array errors
}
catch(Exception e) {
  //  Handle everything else
}

The Golden Rule: Order Matters

Important: You must catch the most specific exceptions first and the most general (Exception) last.

If you put catch(Exception e) first, it will catch everything, and the specific blocks below it will never be reached (causing a compile error).

Example

Let's try to perform an operation that could fail in two ways: dividing by zero OR accessing a bad index.

Output 
Click Run to execute your code

Summary

  • Use multiple catch blocks to handle different errors specifically.
  • Order them from specific (child classes) to general (parent classes).
  • Only one catch block will be executed.
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