The Java Language Specification, Third Edition

BLOCKS AND STATEMENTS Execution of try–catch–finally 14.20.2
completes abruptly for any reason, then the try statement completes
abruptly for the same reason.
◆ If the run-time type of V is not assignable to the parameter of any catch
clause of the try statement, then the try statement completes abruptly
because of a throw of the value V.
• If execution of the try block completes abruptly for any other reason, then
the try statement completes abruptly for the same reason.
In the example:
class BlewIt extends Exception {
BlewIt() { }
BlewIt(String s) { super(s); }
}
class Test {
static void blowUp() throws BlewIt { throw new BlewIt(); }
public static void main(String[] args) {
try {
blowUp();
} catch (RuntimeException r) {
System.out.println("RuntimeException:" + r);
} catch (BlewIt b) {
System.out.println("BlewIt");
}
}
}
the exception BlewIt is thrown by the method blowUp. The try–catch statement
in the body of main has two catch clauses. The run-time type of the exception is
BlewIt which is not assignable to a variable of type RuntimeException, but is
assignable to a variable of type BlewIt, so the output of the example is:
BlewIt
DRAFT
14.20.2 Execution of try–catch–finally
After the great captains and engineers have accomplish’d their work,
After the noble inventors—after the scientists, the chemist,
the geologist, ethnologist,
Finally shall come the Poet . . .
A try statement with a finally block is executed by first executing the try
block. Then there is a choice:
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