35 Java Exception Handling Interview Questions and Answers

Many interviewers like to test your basic Java skills by asking you about exception handling in Java. And thus, practicing Java exception handling interview questions before your tech interview can help you ace it.

Exception handling ensures that the program’s flow does not break when an exception occurs. For example, suppose a program contains many statements, and an exception occurs in the middle of executing some of them. In that case, the statements following the exception will not be executed, and the program will terminate abruptly.

Exception handling is one of the most important topics for a technical interview, so read on to learn about the most frequently asked interview questions on exception handling in Java.

Exception handling is one of the most important topics for a technical interview, so read on to learn about the most frequently asked interview questions on exception handling in Java.

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In this article, we’ll cover:

• Top Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling
• Miscellaneous Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling
• Tips to Answer Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling
• FAQs on Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling

Top Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling

If you are willing to kickstart your career with Java, go through the following commonly asked exception handling in Java interview questions and answers:

Q1. How can you handle exceptions in Java?

Exception handling can be performed using:

• Try: the set of statements or code which requires monitoring for an exception is kept under this block.
• Catch: this block catches all exceptions that were trapped in the try block.
• Finally: this block is always performed irrespective of the catching of exceptions in the try or catch block.

Q2. What is the difference between exception and error in Java?

Errors typically happen while an application is running. For instance, Out of Memory Error occurs in case the JVM runs out of memory. On the other hand, exceptions are mainly caused by the application. For instance, Null Pointer Exception happens when an app tries to get through a null object.

Q3. Why do we need exception handling in Java?

If there is no try and catch block while an exception occurs, the program will terminate. Exception handling ensures the smooth running of a program without program termination.

Q4. Name the different types of exceptions in Java

Based on handling by JVM, there are typically two types of exceptions in Java:

• Checked: Occur during the compilation. Here, the compiler checks whether the exception is handled and throws an error accordingly.
• Unchecked: Occur during program execution. These are not detectable during the compilation process.

In addition, there are two other exceptions based on their definition, namely built-in expectation and user-defined expectations.

Q5. Can we just use try instead of finally and catch blocks?

No, doing so will show a compilation error. Catch or finally block must always accompany try block. We can remove either finally block or catch block, but never both.

Make sure to prepare for the above-mentioned interview questions on exception handling in Java before appearing for your upcoming interview. You can also look at some of the Top Java Programming Interview Questions and Answers. Apart from these, most tier-1 companies tend to ask a few other interview questions on exception handling in Java. They are mentioned in the following section.

Miscellaneous Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling

Here are a few other important interview questions on exception handling in Java that you must know:

1. Describe the difference between unchecked and checked exceptions in Java.
2. What is the difference between finally, final, and finalize in Java?
3. Define try-with resource. How can you say that it differs from an ordinary try?
4. Define Runtime Exception. Describe it with the help of an example.
5. What is the difference between NoClassDefFoundError and ClassNotFoundException in Java?
6. Can we throw an exception explicitly or manually?
7. Describe the use of the throw keyword.
8. Why should we clean up activities such as I/O resources in the finally block?
9. Describe OutofMemoryError in exception handling.
10. What is the error of  ClassCastException?
11. Is there any difference between throw and throws in exception handling in Java?
12. When should we use the printStackTrace() method?
13. Provide me with some examples of unchecked exceptions.
14. Is it illegal to keep an empty catch?
15. What are the advantages of using exception handling in Java?
16. Can checked exceptions occur at compiled time?
17. What happens if a runtime exception occurs?
18. Describe unreachable catch block error in Java.
19. In which situation will you not be able to execute the finally block?
20. Is it possible to throw a statement inside a static block?
21. Define rethrowing.
22. Define user-defined or custom exceptions in Java.
23. What do you understand by a chained exception?
24. What do you understand about throwables in Java?
25. Mention the methods in the throwable class.
26. Give me some examples of checked exceptions.
27. Define NumberFormatException exception in Java.
28. What do you understand by ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException?
29. Suppose there is a catch block in tune with a try block with 3 statements – 1, 2, and 3. Now, imagine that the statement is thrown in statement 2. Will there be an execution of statement 3?
30. Define unreachable catch block error.

You may find it overwhelming to answer such technical Java interview questions on exception handling for experienced developers. So, your mantra toward nailing the next tech interview should be to practice, practice, and practice!

You can also practice some Java Interview Questions for Software Developers With 5 Years of Experience. Meanwhile, go through a few tips mentioned below that will help you face the interview questions with utmost confidence during your D-day.

Tips to Answer Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling

When responding to Java interview questions on exception handling, you must follow these guidelines:

1. Put utmost attention to the question. If you are unsure about the question, simply ask for clarification and then answer.
2. Don’t make any assumptions if the interviewer asks you practical interview questions in Java exception handling. Simply answer what you are confident about.
3. Listen to any hint. If your interviewer provides you with any hints, ensure that you don’t miss them. Most importantly, do not ignore the hint.
4. If your interviewer asks you to demonstrate a process, make sure that you lay out all the steps in detail and do not miss out on anything.
5. Finally, try your best to learn all about the company and position you are applying for.

That said, having an in-depth knowledge of these Java interview questions on exception handling will help you during your tech interview prep.

FAQs on Java Interview Questions on Exception Handling

Q1. How many total exceptions are there in Java?

There are three exceptions in Java, including the error, checked exception, and runtime.

Q2. Is Java difficult to learn?

Compared to various other programming languages, Java is fairly easy to learn. That said, to master Java, you will require constant practice.

Q3. What should we direct to try block?

We direct the statements which may cause problems or disruption in an application to the try block.

Q4. Can exception handling resolve the exceptions?

No. Exception handling in Java can only catch the exception and not resolve them.

Q5. What are the five keywords in exception handling in Java?

The five keywords in exception handling in Java are:

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