What does it mean when the main method throws an exception?

Question

I'm reviewing a midterm I did in preparation for my final exam tomorrow morning. I got this question wrong, but there's no correct answer pointed out, and I neglected to ask the prof about it.

Consider the following code snippet:

public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException 

Which of the following statements about this code is correct?

1. The main method is designed to catch and handle all types of exceptions.
2. The main method is designed to catch and handle the FileNotFoundException.
3. The main method should simply terminate if the FileNotFoundException occurs.
4. The main method should simply terminate if any exception occurs.

I had chosen the second option.

Answer 1

Answer is number 4,

4.- The main method should simply terminate if any exception occurs.

The throws clause only states that the method throws a checked FileNotFoundException and the calling method should catch or rethrow it. If a non-checked exception is thrown (and not catch) in the main method, it will also terminate.

Check this test:

public class ExceptionThrownTest {      @Test     public void testingExceptions() {          try {             ExceptionThrownTest.main(new String[] {});         } catch (Throwable e) {             assertTrue(e instanceof RuntimeException);         }      }      public static void main(String[] args) throws FileNotFoundException {          dangerousMethod();          // Won't be executed because RuntimeException thrown         unreachableMethod();      }      private static void dangerousMethod() {         throw new RuntimeException();     }      private static void unreachableMethod() {         System.out.println("Won't execute");     } } 

As you can see, if I throw a RuntimeException the method will terminate even if the exception thrown is not a FileNotFoundException