| operator used as a conditional operator

[Mathew Kuruvilla]

Hi All,

I had let eclipse generate some code for me, and I saw this:

public class Test {

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		try {
			Workbook workbook = Workbook.getWorkbook(new File("myfile.xls"));
		} catch (BiffException | IOException e) {
			// TODO Auto-generated catch block
			e.printStackTrace();
		} 
	}

}

I have not yet encountered exceptions being used with the | operator.
Has it always been part of Java or is it a new addition?
If it is a new addition, what feature did it come under.

I just want to read more about it as I don't remember coming across this syntax for my SCJP ,,,

Thanks.
Mathew

[Paweł Baczyński]

It is a multiple catch feature.
It was added in Java SE 7.

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/exceptions/catch.html
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/guides/language/catch-multiple.html

[Jesper de Jong]

And the meaning of | in this case is not as a conditional operator.

[Campbell Ritchie]

It does mean “or”, as the | operator does elsewhere. An example of how clever Sun and Oracle have been in reusing old operators so no new keys are required and the only keywords not in Java1.0 are enum strictfp and assert.

But enum and assert ought to have been there from the start.

[Mathew Kuruvilla]

Thanks all. The Big Moose Saloon still has lots of friendly folks who can answer questions.

[Campbell Ritchie]

You're welcome