What are exceptions in Java? How are they handled using try-catch blocks?

In Java, exceptions are events that disrupt the normal flow of a program. They occur during runtime and can result from various issues such as invalid input, file not found, division by zero, or network issues. Exceptions are objects that represent errors and are part of Java’s exception handling mechanism, which is crucial for building robust applications.
Java categorizes exceptions into:
Checked Exceptions: Must be declared or handled (e.g., IOException, SQLException).
Unchecked Exceptions: Result from programming errors and do not need to be declared (e.g., NullPointerException, ArithmeticException).
Errors: Serious issues that applications should not attempt to handle (e.g., OutOfMemoryError).
Handling Exceptions Using try-catch Blocks
A try-catch block is used to handle exceptions in Java, ensuring the program can recover gracefully without crashing.
Key Points:
try Block: Encloses code that might throw an exception.
catch Block: Captures and handles specific exceptions. Multiple catch blocks can be used to handle different types of exceptions.
finally Block (Optional): Used for cleanup tasks, executed regardless of whether an exception occurs.
This mechanism helps maintain program stability and recover from unexpected situations effectively.