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Difference Between Throw and Throws

In Java, both throw and throws are exception handling concepts. The throws keyword is used to specify which exceptions a method may throw, while the throw keyword is used to throw an exception directly inside a method or block of code.

In a method signature, the throws keyword specifies which exceptions may be thrown by the method. The throws keyword is important for propagating exceptions across the call stack, allowing exceptions to be handled outside of the function that declares them.

The throw keyword, on the other hand, is used to explicitly throw a single exception inside a method body or any block of code. Throwing exceptions based on particular criteria inside a code block and custom exceptions are both possible using the throw keyword.

Difference Between Throw and Throws

Throw

The throw keyword in Java is used to throw a single exception directly. This might happen inside a procedure or in any code block. The throw keyword may be used to throw both checked and unchecked exceptions.

When the throw keyword is used to throw an exception, the program's execution is halted and control is passed to the closest enclosing try-catch block that fits the kind of exception raised. If no such match is discovered, the application is terminated by the default exception handler.

The throw keyword may be used to throw exceptions when particular criteria are met, such as when a user inputs wrong data. It may also be used to throw custom exceptions that are unique to a particular program or application.

Using the throw keyword in a method, unchecked exceptions may be propagated up the call stack. When the method that throws the exception defines it using the throws keyword, checked exceptions may be propagated using the throw keyword.

Throws

In Java, the throws keyword is used to specify exceptions that may occur during program execution. It is required to use the throws keyword to list the exceptions that may be thrown in any method that can throw them. The throws keyword informs both the programmer and the caller of the method that throws the exceptions about the exceptions.

Exceptions may be propagated up the call stack using the throws keyword. It is not necessary for a method to handle an exception if it states that it will throw one. The caller of an exception-throwing method is responsible for handling the exceptions (or throwing them to its caller, etc.) so that the program's flow may be maintained.

The throws keyword must only be used to throw checked exceptions. Exceptions that aren't checked don't need to be thrown or handled directly in code.

Comparison Table between Throw and Throws

Throw Throws
  • Throw is a keyword that is used to explicitly throw an exception in a program, either within a function or within a block of code.
  • The term throws is used in the method signature to specify an exception that may be thrown by the function while the code is being executed.
  • Internally, throw is constructed in such a way that it can only throw one exception at a time, i.e., we can't use the throw keyword to throw several exceptions.
  • On the other side, we may use the throws keyword to define many exceptions that may be thrown by the function that uses the throws keyword.
  • We may only transmit unchecked exceptions using the throw keyword; checked exceptions cannot be propagated.
  • On the other hand, the throws keyword may be used to define both checked and unchecked exceptions, and for the propagation of checked exceptions, the throws keyword must be preceded by the relevant exception class name.
  • The instance variable comes after the throw keyword in syntax.
  • The throws keyword, on the other hand, is followed by the names of the exception classes.
  • To utilize the toss keyword, we must first understand that it is used inside the method.
  • The throws keyword, on the other hand, is used with the method signature.



About the author:
Adarsh Kumar Singh is a technology writer with a passion for coding and programming. With years of experience in the technical field, he has established a reputation as a knowledgeable and insightful writer on a range of technical topics.