About reference one by one and reader closing

Question

I have two short questions.

Here is the first

  //global
  private static final URL ca = Administrator.class.getResource("category.txt");

  //inside some method
  BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(new File(ca.getFile())));
  br.close():

Is this a good practice? I mean I embed FileReader as a parameter, so I may not be able to close it. And I suppose java may be smart enough to close it when br is closed?

Second: After I close br, can I use it to reference another BufferedReader and instantiate it in the same way with a different file?

Thanks for all help.

Answer 1

Is this a good practice? I mean I embed FileReader as a parameter, so I may not be able to close it.

You don't need to close it. Closing the BufferedReader closes it.

And I suppose java may be smart enough to close it when br is closed?

Yes, see the Javadoc.

Second: After I close br, can I use it to reference another BufferedReader and instantiate it in the same way with a different file?

Yes.

Answer 2

And I suppose java may be smart enough to close it when br is closed?

Yes. The BufferedReader.close() Javadoc says (in part)

Closes the stream and releases any system resources associated with it.

The FileReader is a system resource associated with the BufferedReader in your question.

After I close br, can I use it to reference another BufferedReader and instantiate it in the same way with a different file?

Yes. As long as you call new BufferedReader.