NamingException

NamingException is the base class for exceptions thrown by the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) when a naming or directory operation fails. It is a checked exception in the javax.naming package and is typically thrown by operations such as Context.lookup, Context.bind, Context.unbind, and Context.list when problems occur with names, contexts, or directory data.

NamingException provides context for debugging and can carry additional information through standard exception chaining. It may include an explanatory message and, in JNDI, may convey details about the portion of the name that was resolved and the remaining portion to be resolved. The exception hierarchy includes several concrete subclasses that indicate specific failure modes, such as NameNotFoundException (the name could not be found), NotContextException (the target is not a context), InvalidNameException (the provided name is invalid), CannotProceedException (resolution cannot proceed within the current context), and CommunicationException (a problem communicating with the naming service).

Handling guidance typically involves catching NamingException to address all JNDI errors, or catching particular subclasses to tailor responses to specific conditions. As a checked exception, code that performs naming operations must acknowledge it either with a try/catch block or by declaring it in the throws clause. NamingException thus provides a uniform mechanism for reporting problems in naming and directory operations across different service providers within JNDI.

See also: Java Naming and Directory Interface, javax.naming.