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Why one should prefer try-with-resources over try-finally in Java?

Simplify resource cleanup and exception handling with Java's try-with-resources statement.

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  • Prefer try-with-resources over try-finally for all closeable resources
  • Automatically closes resources at end of block — no manual finally needed
  • Guarantees closure even when exceptions occur
  • Much cleaner, shorter, and more readable code
  • Eliminates verbose, nested, error-prone finally blocks
  • Correctly handles multiple resources (separated by semicolons)
  • Closes resources in reverse order of declaration
  • Preserves primary exception from the try block
  • Adds any close() exceptions as suppressed exceptions
  • Prevents masking/losing of original exceptions (common try-finally bug)
  • Works with any type implementing AutoCloseable or Closeable
  • Reduces risk of forgetting to close resources
  • Makes resource management safer, simpler, and more idiomatic
  • Introduced in Java 7 — use it everywhere possible
  • Only use try-finally for pre-Java 7 code or non-AutoCloseable cases
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