Java 7 provides the facility to catch multiple type exceptions in a single catch block to optimize code. We can use vertical bar or pipe (|) to separate multiple exceptions in catch block.
Multiple exceptions handling before Java 7
package com.w3schools360; public class MultipleExceptionHandling { public static void main(String args[]){ try{ int array[] = new int[5]; array[5] = 20/0; } catch(ArithmeticException e){ System.out.println("ArithmeticException catch block"); System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){ System.out.println("ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException catch block"); System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } catch(Exception e){ System.out.println("Exception catch block"); System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } } }
Output
ArithmeticException catch block / by zero
Multiple exceptions handling after Java 7
package com.w3schools360; public class MultipleExceptionHandling { public static void main(String args[]){ try{ int array[] = new int[5]; array[5] = 20/0; } catch(ArithmeticException | ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){ System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } } }
Output
/ by zero
Note: In case of catching multiple exceptions, if we are using super class, don’t use child class.
package com.w3schools360; public class MultipleExceptionHandling { public static void main(String args[]){ try{ int array[] = new int[5]; array[5] = 20/0; } catch(Exception | ArithmeticException | ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){ System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } } }
Output
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.Error: Unresolved compilation problems: The exception ArithmeticException is already caught by the alternative Exception The exception ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException is already caught by the alternative Exception at com.w3schools360.MultipleExceptionHandling.main(MultipleExceptionHandling.java:9)