EmptyFinalize.qhelp

<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC
  "-//Semmle//qhelp//EN"
  "qhelp.dtd">
<qhelp>


<overview>
<p>An empty <code>finalize</code> method is useless and may prevent finalization from 
working properly. This is because, unlike a constructor, a finalizer does not implicitly call the 
finalizer of the superclass. Thus, an empty finalizer prevents any finalization logic that is 
defined in any of its superclasses from being executed.</p>

</overview>
<recommendation>

<p>Do not include an empty <code>finalize</code> method.</p>

</recommendation>
<example>

<p>In the following example, the empty <code>finalize</code> method in class <code>ExtendedLog</code>
prevents the <code>finalize</code> method in class <code>Log</code> from being called. The result is
that the log file is not closed. To fix this, remove the empty <code>finalize</code> method.</p>

<sample src="EmptyFinalize.java" />

</example>
<references>


<li>
Java Language Specification:
<a href="https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se11/html/jls-12.html#jls-12.6">12.6 Finalization of Class Instances</a>.
</li>


</references>
</qhelp>