Do I have to close FileInputStream?

Question

I am working as a trainee in Test Automation. I am working with creating Junit code with Eclipse and run using Eclipse. In that I am retriving the datas from excel sheet usi

Answer 1

Yes! you should always release the resources once after you are done with them. Java has a powerful mechanism for Garbage Collection(note that it is different thing compare to resource management/leaks.) So a Garbage collector can not determine that if you need the resource in future or not? Failing to release resources may cause issues like- Denial of services, poor performance .

As already answered but another effort less way is try with resources

    try (FileInputStream fi = new FileInputStream("c:\\search.xls")) {

         //do something with fi.
         //fi.getChannel() ;

    } catch(IOException e) {
        // exception handling.
    } finally {
    // some statements for finally.
   }

Now you don't need to explicitly call fi.close() method.