Can finalize be called after a constructor throws an exception?

Question

Are there any details on whether or not an object is cleaned up using finalize() if that object\'s constructor thew an exception.

When this method is ca

Answer 1

My test shows that it can

public class Test1 {

    Test1() {
        throw new RuntimeException();
    }

    @Override
    protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
        System.out.println("finalized");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        try {
            new Test1();
        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        System.gc();
        Thread.sleep(1000);
    }
}

prints

java.lang.RuntimeException
    at test.Test1.<init>(Test1.java:13)
    at test.Test1.main(Test1.java:24)
finalized

it is on Java HostSpot Client VM 1.7.0_03

Answer 2

According to section 12.6.1. Implementing Finalization of the JLS:

An object o is not finalizable until its constructor has invoked the constructor for Object on o and that invocation has completed successfully (that is, without throwing an exception).

If your constructor throws an exception after the Object constructor completes, then your object should be finalizable, so finalize() could still be called.

There's a good example stepping through object construction in section 12.5. Creation of New Class Instances that shows exactly when the Object constructor is called.

Answer 3

To demonstrate more clearly:

public class Test1 {

    public static class LifeBoat extends RuntimeException
    {
        private Test1 passenger;
        public Test1 getPassenger(){return passenger;}
        public LifeBoat(Test1 passenger){this.passenger=passenger;}
    }

    Test1() {
        super(); //once this is finished, there is an Object to GC per JLS 12.6.1. 
        throw new LifeBoat(this);
    }

    @Override
    protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
        System.out.println("finalized");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        try {
            new Test1();
        } catch (LifeBoat e) {
            Test1 obj;
            obj=e.getPassenger();
            System.out.println(obj);
        }
        System.gc();
        Thread.sleep(1000);
    }
}

prints

java.lang.RuntimeException
    at test.Test1.<init>(Test1.java:13)
    at test.Test1.main(Test1.java:24)
test.Test1@6dc8f3cd
finalized