Throws vs Throwable in Java Explained

Hey everyone,

I often see confusion around Java exception handling, especially when it comes to the difference between throws and Throwable. As part of a leading software testing company, we regularly deal with error handling and exception testing in different projects, so I thought I’d share some insights.

throws → Used in method declarations to specify which exceptions might be thrown. It’s basically a way to alert the compiler and developers that a method can cause certain exceptions.

Throwable → This is the superclass of all exceptions and errors in Java. Both Exception and Error extend Throwable.

In short:

throws = a keyword that declares exceptions.

Throwable = the root class for all exceptions and errors.

This distinction is crucial for writing stable, bug-free applications and for creating effective software testing strategies.

We recently published a detailed article on this topic with code examples and practical explanations. If you want to dive deeper, you can check it out here:

Understanding the Difference Between Throws and Throwable in Java

Would love to hear your thoughts — how do you usually explain this concept to junior developers or testers on your team?

— Fleek IT Solutions (Software Testing Company)