Finally Block

❔ What is a finally block?

The finally block is used to write code that must be executed, no matter what happens in the try-catch block.

It runs whether an exception is thrown or not, caught or not, or even if there’s a return statement.

🔧 Syntax:

try {
    // code that might throw exception
} catch (Exception e) {
    // handling code
} finally {
    // cleanup code that always runs
}

💡 Real-Life Analogy

Imagine leaving a room:

• Whether you leave normally or there's a fire alarm,

  ➡️ you still lock the door before leaving.

That "always executed step" is like the finally block.

✅ Example: Normal Execution

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            System.out.println("Try block executed");
        } catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println("Exception caught");
        } finally {
            System.out.println("Finally block always runs");
        }
    }
}

Try block executed
Finally block always runs

⚠️ Example: With Exception

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            int a = 10 / 0;  // causes ArithmeticException
        } catch (ArithmeticException e) {
            System.out.println("Caught exception: " + e);
        } finally {
            System.out.println("Finally block runs anyway");
        }
    }
}

Caught exception: java.lang.ArithmeticException: / by zero
Finally block runs anyway

⚡ Special Case: Return in Try

Even if there's a return statement inside try, finally still runs.

public class Main {
    public static int test() {
        try {
            return 1;
        } finally {
            System.out.println("Finally still runs");
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Returned: " + test());
    }
}

Finally still runs
Returned: 1

🧠 When to Use finally?

• To close resources (files, database connections, streams)

• To log important info

• To ensure cleanup, no matter what

🧾 Recap Table