exception is never thrown in try compiler error

[catherine powell]

Hi Everyone,

I am a little confused as to the rule regarding when the compiler will complain that an exception is not thrown in the body of a try block. The following code compiles without a problem:

public class ThrowTest{
public static void main(String[] args){
try{}
catch(Exception e){}
}
}

However, the following code will not compile because...
MyThread.java:19: exception java.lang.InterruptedException is never thrown in body of corresponding try statement
}catch(InterruptedException ex){}
^

public class MyThread extends Thread{

String myName;

MyThread(String name){myName=name;}

public void run(){
for(int i=0;i<100;i++){
System.out.println(myName);
}
}

public static void main(String[] args){
try{
MyThread mt1 = new MyThread("mt1");
MyThread mt2 = new MyThread("mt2");
mt1.start();
mt2.start();
}catch(InterruptedException ex){}
}

}

Could someone please explain what the rule is regarding this type of compiler error? Thanks very much in advance.

[Chetan Raju]

When you write catch(Exception e) this is applicable for all exceptions including runtime exceptions. Since runtime exceptions are unchecked exceptions the compiler doesn't complain.

However, InterruptedException is a Checked exception and the compiler checks to see that there is a possibility of this exception thrown in try clause.

[catherine powell]

I understand now. Thanks very much again for your help.