What is a checked exception in Java?

In Java, a checked exception is an exception that must be either caught with a try‑catch block or declared in the method signature using the throws keyword. The compiler enforces this requirement, ensuring that callers are aware of potential error conditions. Checked exceptions represent recoverable conditions that a program should handle, such as IOException or SQLException. They differ from unchecked exceptions (RuntimeException and its subclasses), which are not required to be declared or caught. Using checked exceptions encourages explicit error handling and improves code robustness.