What is the Difference Between Catching Throwable and Exception in Java?

What is the difference between using Throwable and Exception in a try-catch block in Java?

try {
    // Code that may throw an exception
} catch(Throwable e) {
    // Handle Throwable, both Exception and Error
}

try {
    // Code that may throw an exception
} catch(Exception e) {
    // Handle Exception only
}

In Java, `Throwable` and `Exception` are part of the exception handling framework, and understanding the difference between them is crucial for effective error handling.

try {
    // Some code that could throw an exception/classified as a runtime exception
} catch (Exception e) {
    // Handle the excess conditions properly
}

Causes

• `Throwable` is the superclass of all errors and exceptions in Java, including `Error` and `Exception`.
• `Exception` is a subclass of `Throwable` meant specifically for exceptional conditions that a program should catch. `Throwable` includes conditions that may not be meant to be caught, such as `OutOfMemoryError`.

Solutions

• Use `Throwable` when you need to handle all throwable objects, including both checked and unchecked exceptions. Although it's generally not recommended because it may catch critical errors you don't want to handle.
• Use `Exception` when you want to catch only exceptions that your program can realistically handle, thereby avoiding the catching of system errors.

Mistake: Catching `Throwable` indiscriminately can mask serious errors like `OutOfMemoryError`.

Solution: Be cautious with `Throwable`. Prefer catching specific exceptions that your application can handle.

Mistake: Using `Exception` for all catches leads to neglecting unchecked exceptions.

Solution: Consider whether unchecked exceptions need explicit handling in your application design.