Run cleanup code after a try block regardless of whether an exception occurred.

finally always runs after try/catch:

  try
    stdout.println("working")
  catch
    -> ex as Exception
    stdout.println(ex.reason())
  finally
    stdout.println("cleanup")

The finally block executes whether the try succeeds or catch handles an exception.

See Q1154 for basic try/catch.

Example

defines module qa.controlflow.trywithfinally

  defines program

    TryWithFinallyDemo()
      stdout <- Stdout()

      //Success path — finally still runs
      try
        stdout.println("Working")
      catch
        -> ex as Exception
        stdout.println(ex.reason())
      finally
        stdout.println("Cleanup runs regardless")

Common mistakes

E01010 — EK9 uses indentation, not braces. The finally block is a peer of try and catch.

Incorrect:

      finally {
        System.out.println("cleanup");
      }

Correct:

      finally
        stdout.println("Cleanup runs regardless")

Other ways to ask this

I need a finally block that always runs after try/catch
In Java I'd use try-finally for guaranteed cleanup. Write the EK9 equivalent
Given an operation that might fail, ensure cleanup runs either way
Execute teardown logic after both success and failure paths

Coming from another language?

Java: try { } catch { } finally { }. Python: try/except/finally. Go: defer. EK9: try/catch/finally — same structure as Java.

Keywords: finally, try, teardown, exception, always, cleanup