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Does a finally block always get executed in Java?

Considering this code, can I be absolutely sure that the finally block always executes, no matter what something() is?

try {  
    something();  
    return success;  
}  
catch (Exception e) {   
    return failure;  
}  
finally {  
    System.out.println("I don't know if this will get printed out");
}

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22

FYI: In C# the behaviour is identical apart from the fact that replacing the statement in the finally-clause with return 2; is not allowed (Compiler-Error).

Alexander Pacha
– Alexander Pacha

2013-10-31 08:08:33 +00:00
Commented Oct 31, 2013 at 8:08
15

Here is an important detail to be aware of: stackoverflow.com/a/20363941/2684342

WoodenKitty
– WoodenKitty

2013-12-03 23:37:57 +00:00
Commented Dec 3, 2013 at 23:37
25

You can even add a return statement in the finally block itself, which will then override the previous return value. This also magically discards unhandled exceptions. At that point, you should consider refactoring your code.

Zyl
– Zyl

2015-04-15 17:25:33 +00:00
Commented Apr 15, 2015 at 17:25
10

That does not really prove that finally trumps return. The return value is printed from the caller code. Doesn't seem to prove much.

Trimtab
– Trimtab

2016-06-21 04:20:19 +00:00
Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 4:20
23

Sorry, but this is a demonstration not a proof. It is only a proof if you can show that this example always behaves this way on all Java platforms, AND that similar examples also always behave this way.

Stephen C
– Stephen C

2017-08-20 01:24:21 +00:00
Commented Aug 20, 2017 at 1:24

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Does a finally block always get executed in Java?

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