can a static block through exception?

[yamini nadella]

Can a Static Block through exception? What happens if exception occurs in static block.

[marc weber]

Based on my tests, it appears that:

A static block can throw any Exception as long as it's handled within the static block (not re-thrown to a level outside the block).

A static block can generate an unchecked exception, but...

A static block can not explicitly throw an unchecked exception without handling it. When this is attempted, a compilation error results: "initializer must be able to complete normally."

public class StaticException {
  static {
    int i = 1/0; //throws ArithmeticException -- OK
    try {
      throw new Exception();
    } catch(Exception e) {
      System.out.println("Caught: " + e); //handled -- OK
    }
    //throw new RuntimeException(); //NOT OK
  }
 
  public static void main(String[] args) {}
}