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A method should rarely throw {{RuntimeException}} or {{Exception}}. This is because handling these exceptions requires catching {{RuntimeException}}, which is forbidden in [EXC14-J. Catch specific exceptions as opposed to the more general RuntimeException or Exception]. Moreover, throwing a {{RuntimeException}} can lead to subtle errors, for instance, a caller who fails to retrieve a return value from an offending method is unable to check for appropriate feedback. The Java Language Specification (Section 8.4.7 Method Body) allows the declaration of a method with a return type without making it necessary to return a value if a runtime exception is thrown from within the method \[[JLS 05|AA. Java References#JLS 05]\]. |
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To handle the case of passing in a null string parameter, code calling this method may require catching RuntimeException, which is a violation of EXC14-J. Catch specific exceptions as opposed to the more general RuntimeException or Exception.
Compliant Solution
This compliant solution catches a specific exception (NullPointerException) to denote the particular exceptional condition.
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EXC12-J. Do not allow unsanitized user input to be logged 13. Exceptional Behavior (EXC) EXC14-J. Catch specific exceptions as opposed to the more general RuntimeException or Exception