Exceptions - Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design - page 544

The finally Clause
A try-catch statement can have an optional finally clause . The
finally clause defines a section of code that is executed no matter
how the try block is exited. Most often, a finally clause is used to
manage resources or to guarantee that particular parts of an algo-
rithm are executed.
If no exception is generated, the statements in the finally clause
are executed after the try block is complete. If an exception is generated in the try
block, control first transfers to the appropriate catch clause. After executing the
exception-handling code, control transfers to the finally clause and its statements
are executed. A finally clause, if present, must be listed following the catch clauses.
Note that a try block does not need to have a catch clause at all. If there are
no catch clauses, a finally clause may used by itself if that is appropriate for
the situation.

KEY CONCEPT
The finally clause is executed
whether the try block is exited
normally or because of a thrown
exception.

SELF-REVIEW QUESTIONS (see answers in Appendix N)
SR 11.4 What is a catch clause?
SR 11.5 What is a finally clause?
SR 11.6 What output is produced by the following code fragment under each
of the stated conditions?

try
{
review.question();
}
catch (Exception1 exception)
{
System.out.println ("one caught");
}
catch (Exception2 exception)
{
System.out.println ("two caught");
}
finally
{
System.out.println ("finally");
}
System.out.println ("the end");

a. No exception is thrown by the review.question() method.