AnyClassException

DRAFT

Observed

Correction

Here is what's right.

Only instances of java.lang.Throwable and its subclasses can be thrown as exceptions.

try {
  throw new Throwable();
} catch (Throwable ex) {
  System.out.println(ex);
}

It’s not possible to throw values of other types (neither primitive nor reference). The following is illegal and will not compile:

try {
  throw "Oh My!";  // type error -- throw requires a Throwable
} catch (String ex) {
  System.out.println(ex);
}

Origin

Where could this misconception come from?

A reason for this Java misconception may be that a student already knows a language like JavaScript that allows throwing values of any type:

try {
  throw "Oh My!"; // ok in JavaScript
} catch (ex) {
  console.log("Caught " + ex);
}