How does the finally block work in Python exception handling?

a) Executes code regardless of whether an exception occurs

b) Executes only if an exception occurs

c) Executes only if no exceptions occur

d) Used to raise an exception manually

Answer:

a) Executes code regardless of whether an exception occurs

Explanation:

The finally block in Python exception handling is used to execute code that should run regardless of whether an exception occurs or not. This block is typically used for cleaning up resources, such as closing files or releasing network connections, ensuring that they are properly handled even if an error occurs.

try:
    # Code that might raise an exception
    file = open("example.txt", "r")
    content = file.read()
except FileNotFoundError:
    # Code to handle the exception
    print("File not found!")
finally:
    # Code to always execute, such as closing the file
    file.close()
    print("File closed.")

In this example, the finally block ensures that the file is closed whether or not an exception occurs. If the file is not found, the except block will handle the error, but the finally block will still execute to close the file.

The finally block is essential for resource management, helping to avoid resource leaks and ensuring that necessary cleanup is always performed.