Chapter 4: Exception Handling

Exception handling in Java provides a robust, type-safe mechanism to intercept, propagate, isolate, and recover from anomalous runtime conditions. Writing enterprise-grade backend microservices demands mastery over the exception hierarchy, resource management, and clean error translation.

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🧭 Subtopics & Curriculum

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Type Hierarchy4.1

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4.1 The Throwable Class Hierarchy

• What is Exception Handling?
• Exception Hierarchy
• 2. Error vs Exception

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Compiler Semantics4.2

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4.2 Checked vs Unchecked Exceptions

• Difference Between Checked and Unchecked Exceptions
• 2. When to Use Each in Real Systems
  • When to Use Checked Exceptions:
  • When to Use Unchecked Exceptions:

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Control Flow4.3

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4.3 try-catch-finally Execution Flow

• Execution Flow Rules
• Multiple Catch blocks
  • Important rule
• finally
• Can we have try without catch?
• Can finally be skipped?
• throw keyword
• throws
• throw vs throws

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Resource Management4.4

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4.4 Try-with-Resources & AutoCloseable

• try-with-resources
• 1. The Legacy Problem vs Try-with-Resources
  • Legacy Java 6 Cleanup (Clunky & Prone to Leakage):
  • Modern Try-with-Resources:
  • Closing Order Rule
• Suppressed Exceptions

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Enterprise Best Practices4.5

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4.5 Custom Exceptions & API Design

• Why use custom exceptions?
• Custom checked vs unchecked exception
  • Which one is usually preferred in Spring Boot?
• Why we should not use Exception everywhere?
• Why @RestControllerAdvice?
• @ExceptionHandler

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