Question

Possible Duplicate:
Should java try blocks be scoped as tightly as possible?

Is there any performance benefit (particularly in C++ or Java) in keeping the size of try block small [aside from it being more informative to the reader as to which statement can throw].

Given the following method where i do not want to throw out of the method.

void function() throws Exception
{
    statement1
    statement2
    statement3 // can throw
    statement4
    statement5
}

Is it better to do this:

Option 1

void function()
{
    try {
        statement1
        statement2
        statement3 // can throw
        statement4
        statement5
    }
    catch (...) {
    }
}

or

Option 2

void function()
{
    statement1
    statement2

    boolean success = false;
    try {
        statement3 // can throw
        success = true;
    }
    catch (...) {
    }

    if (success)
    {
        statement4
        statement5
    }
}

Answer 1

At least with the compilers and exception handling mechanisms I’ve seen, there should be no difference. The depth at which an exception throw is nested can make a difference, but only when the exception is thrown and the general agreement is that in this case performance is something you can generally ignore.