== Why is this an issue?

Multiple catch blocks of the appropriate type should be used instead of catching a general exception, and then testing on the type.


=== Noncompliant code example

[source,java]
----
try {
  /* ... */
} catch (Exception e) {
  if(e instanceof IOException) { /* ... */ }         // Noncompliant
  if(e instanceof NullPointerException{ /* ... */ }  // Noncompliant
}
----


=== Compliant solution

[source,java]
----
try {
  /* ... */
} catch (IOException e) { /* ... */ }                // Compliant
} catch (NullPointerException e) { /* ... */ }       // Compliant
----


== Resources

* https://wiki.sei.cmu.edu/confluence/display/java/ERR51-J.+Prefer+user-defined+exceptions+over+more+general+exception+types[CERT, ERR51-J.] - Prefer user-defined exceptions over more general exception types


ifdef::env-github,rspecator-view[]

'''
== Implementation Specification
(visible only on this page)

=== Message

Replace the usage of the "instanceof" operator by a catch block.


'''
== Comments And Links
(visible only on this page)

=== on 16 Aug 2013, 08:27:16 Freddy Mallet wrote:
Is implemented by \http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/SONARJAVA-292

endif::env-github,rspecator-view[]