What is Java finally block?

A Java finally block contains all the important statements that need to be executed whether an exception occurs or not. Regardless of exception a finally ensures that statements written inside finally-block should always execute. Like – closing a connection, file or stream. 

Without catch-block

A finally-block can be used directly with the try-block. Finally-block will always execute even if an error occurs and it is not handled.

Syntax

try {

    // Body of try block.
    // Statements that may cause an exception

} finally {

    // This block will always execute
}

Example

Following is the example program, that shows how you can use finally-block without catch-block.

FinallyWithoutCatch.javaCopy
public class FinallyWithoutCatch {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        try {

            // Do something here
            for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
                System.out.print(i + " ");
            }

        } finally {

            // This line will always execute
            System.out.println("END!");
        }
    }
}
Try It

With catch block

You can also write finally-block with catch-block, with catch block you can also handle the exception. See the below-shown syntax and example to better understand.

Syntax

try {

    // Body of try block.
    // Statements that may cause an exception

} catch(<exception_class> <object_name>) {

    // Body of catch block.
    // Handling an exception

} finally {

    // This block will always execute
}

Example

Following is the example program, that shows how you can use finally-block with catch-block.

FinallyWithCatch.javaCopy
public class FinallyWithCatch {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int num = 0;

        try {

            // It will raise numer format exception
            num = Integer.parseInt("hello");

        } catch (NumberFormatException e) {

            // Handle the exception
            System.out.println("Invalid number!");

        } finally {

            // This line will always execute
            System.out.println("Number is: " + num);
        }

    }
}
Try It