How are exceptions caught and dealt with at the low (assembly) level?

Question

I have this code -

try {
     doSomething();
} catch (Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

How will this actually be implemented by the compiler. Where is the check for the exception actually put in the assembly code generated?

Update
I know that how the above code is translated to bytecode. The bytecode only translates the try-catch to corresponding try-handler blocks. I am interested in how it will be translated to assembly/and or handled by the jvm.

Answer 1

If I understand your question correctly, the following code

public class Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            otherMethod();
        }
        catch (Exception e) {}
        try {
            otherMethod();
            someMethod();
        }
        catch (SQLException e) {}
        catch (IOException e) {}
    }

    public static void someMethod() throws IOException {throw new IOException();}
    public static void otherMethod() throws SQLException, IOException {}
}

produces the following (excerpt of human readable version of) byte code.

//  main method
     0: invokestatic  #2                  // Method otherMethod:()V
     3: goto          7
     6: astore_1      
     7: invokestatic  #2                  // Method otherMethod:()V
    10: invokestatic  #4                  // Method someMethod:()V
    13: goto          21
    16: astore_1      
    17: goto          21
    20: astore_1      
    21: return        
  Exception table:
     from    to  target type
         0     3     6   Class java/lang/Exception
         7    13    16   Class java/sql/SQLException
         7    13    20   Class java/io/IOException

You'll notice the Exception table. This constructs instructs the VM that if an exception of type type happens between the instruction from from to to, then it must goto instruction (offset) target. It also instructs it to push the Exception reference on the stack so that its value can be copied and bound to the parameter in the catch block.

You also have this piece relating to the throw statement above.

// someMethod method
     0: new           #6                  // class java/io/IOException
     3: dup           
     4: invokespecial #7                  // Method java/io/IOException."<init>":()V
     7: athrow        

The instruction athrow does the following

throws an error or exception (notice that the rest of the stack is cleared, leaving only a reference to the Throwable)

The JVM explains what happens

The objectref must be of type reference and must refer to an object that is an instance of class Throwable or of a subclass of Throwable. It is popped from the operand stack. The objectref is then thrown by searching the current method (§2.6) for the first exception handler that matches the class of objectref, as given by the algorithm in §2.10.

If an exception handler that matches objectref is found, it contains the location of the code intended to handle this exception. The pc register is reset to that location, the operand stack of the current frame is cleared, objectref is pushed back onto the operand stack, and execution continues.

If no matching exception handler is found in the current frame, that frame is popped. If the current frame represents an invocation of a synchronized method, the monitor entered or reentered on invocation of the method is exited as if by execution of a monitorexit instruction (§monitorexit). Finally, the frame of its invoker is reinstated, if such a frame exists, and the objectref is rethrown. If no such frame exists, the current thread exits.

So stack frames keep getting popped until one is found that can handle the thrown exception.

How will this actually be implemented by the compiler. Where is the check for the exception actually put in the assembly code generated?

The compiler generates the bytecode above. There is no check for an exception, only byte code instructions. The athrow will instruct the VM to perform the task of what we call throwing an exception, which will result in popping the stack, searching exception tables in the current stack frame, etc.