Javascript try...catch...else...finally like Python, Java, Ruby, etc
Extending the idea of jhs a little, the whole concept could be put inside a function, to provide even more readability:
var try_catch_else_finally = function(protected_code, handler_code, else_code, finally_code) {
try {
var success = true;
try {
protected_code();
} catch(e) {
success = false;
handler_code({"exception_was": e});
}
if(success) {
else_code();
}
} finally {
finally_code();
}
};
Then we can use it like this (very similar to the python way):
try_catch_else_finally(function() {
// protected block
}, function() {
// handler block
}, function() {
// else block
}, function() {
// final-block
});
I know the question is old and answers has already given but I think that my answer is the simplest to get an "else" in javascripts try-catch-block.
var error = null;
try {
/*Protected-block*/
} catch ( catchedError ) {
error = catchedError; //necessary to make it available in finally-block
} finally {
if ( error ) {
/*Handler-block*/
/*e.g. console.log( 'error: ' + error.message );*/
} else {
/*Else-block*/
}
/*Final-block*/
}
Javascript does not have the syntax to support the no-exception scenario. The best workaround is nested try
statements, similar to the "legacy" technique from PEP 341
// A pretty-good try/catch/else/finally implementation.
try {
var success = true;
try {
protected_code();
} catch(e) {
success = false;
handler_code({"exception_was": e});
}
if(success) {
else_code();
}
} finally {
this_always_runs();
}
Besides readability, the only problem is the success
variable. If protected_code
sets window.success = false
, this will not work. A less readable but safer way uses a function namespace:
// A try/catch/else/finally implementation without changing variable bindings.
try {
(function() {
var success = true;
try {
protected_code();
} catch(e) {
success = false;
handler_code({"exception_was": e});
}
if(success) {
else_code();
}
})();
} finally {
this_always_runs();
}
I know this is old, but here is a pure syntax solution, which I think is the proper way to go:
try {
// Protected-block
try {
// Else-block
} catch (e) {
// Else-handler-block
}
} catch(e) {
// Handler-block
} finally {
// Final-block
}
The code in Protected-block is executed. If the code throws an error, Handler-block is executed; If no error is thrown, Else-block is executed.
No matter what happened previously, Final-block is executed once the code block is complete and any thrown errors handled. Even if there’s an error in Handler-block or Else-block, the code in Final-block is still run.
If an error is thrown in the Else-block it is not handled by the Handler-block but instead by the Else-handler-block
And if you know that the Else-block will not throw:
try {
// Protected-block
// Else-block
} catch(e) {
// Handler-block
} finally {
// Final-block
}
Moral of the story, don't be afraid to indent ;)
Note: this works only if the Else-handler-block never throws.