Resource Acquisition Is Initialization in Java: Ensuring Safe Resource Management
- Also known as
- Intent of Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Design Pattern
- Detailed Explanation of Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Pattern with Real-World Examples
- Programmatic Example of RAII Pattern in Java
- When to Use the Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Pattern in Java
- Real-World Applications of RAII Pattern in Java
- Benefits and Trade-offs of Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Pattern
- Related Java Design Patterns
- References and Credits
Also known as
- RAII
- Scope-based Resource Management
Intent of Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Design Pattern
Ensure efficient Java resource management by tying the resource lifecycle to object lifetime, utilizing the RAII pattern.
Detailed Explanation of Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Pattern with Real-World Examples
Real-world example
In a car rental service, each car represents a resource. Using the RAII pattern, when a customer rents a car (acquires the resource), the car is marked as rented. When the customer returns the car (the object goes out of scope), the car is automatically made available for the next customer. This ensures that cars are properly managed and available without manual intervention for checking availability or returns.
In plain words
The RAII pattern in Java allows for exception-safe resource management, ensuring robust handling of critical resources.
Wikipedia says
Resource acquisition is initialization (RAII) is a programming idiom used in several object-oriented, statically typed programming languages to describe a particular language behavior. Resource allocation (or acquisition) is done during object creation (specifically initialization), by the constructor, while resource deallocation (release) is done during object destruction (specifically finalization), by the destructor.
Sequence diagram

Programmatic Example of RAII Pattern in Java
The RAII pattern is a common idiom used in software design where the acquisition of a resource is done during object creation (initialization), and the release of the resource is done during object destruction. This pattern is particularly useful in dealing with resource leaks and is critical in writing exception-safe code in C++. In Java, RAII is achieved with try-with-resources statement and interfacesjava.io.Closeable
andAutoCloseable
.
// This is an example of a resource class that implements the AutoCloseable interface.// The resource is acquired in the constructor and released in the close method.@Slf4jpublic class SlidingDoor implements AutoCloseable { public SlidingDoor() { LOGGER.info("Sliding door opens.");// Resource acquisition is done here } @Override public void close() { LOGGER.info("Sliding door closes.");// Resource release is done here }}
In the above code,SlidingDoor
is a resource that implements theAutoCloseable
interface. The resource (in this case, a door) is "acquired" in the constructor (the door is opened), and "released" in theclose
method (the door is closed).
// This is another example of a resource class that implements the Closeable interface.// The resource is acquired in the constructor and released in the close method.@Slf4jpublic class TreasureChest implements Closeable { public TreasureChest() { LOGGER.info("Treasure chest opens.");// Resource acquisition is done here } @Override public void close() { LOGGER.info("Treasure chest closes.");// Resource release is done here }}
Similarly,TreasureChest
is another resource that implements theCloseable
interface. The resource (a treasure chest) is "acquired" in the constructor (the chest is opened), and "released" in theclose
method (the chest is closed).
// This is an example of how to use the RAII pattern in Java using the try-with-resources statement.@Slf4jpublic class App { public static void main(String[]args) { try (var ignored = new SlidingDoor()) { LOGGER.info("Walking in."); } try (var ignored = new TreasureChest()) { LOGGER.info("Looting contents."); } }}
In themain
method of theApp
class, we see the RAII pattern in action. Thetry-with-resources
statement is used to ensure that each resource is closed at the end of the statement. This is where theAutoCloseable
orCloseable
interfaces come into play. When thetry
block is exited (either normally or via an exception), theclose
method of the resource is automatically called, thus ensuring the resource is properly released.
The console output:
10:07:14.833 [main] INFO com.iluwatar.resource.acquisition.is.initialization.SlidingDoor -- Sliding door opens.10:07:14.835 [main] INFO com.iluwatar.resource.acquisition.is.initialization.App -- Walking in.10:07:14.835 [main] INFO com.iluwatar.resource.acquisition.is.initialization.SlidingDoor -- Sliding door closes.10:07:14.835 [main] INFO com.iluwatar.resource.acquisition.is.initialization.TreasureChest -- Treasure chest opens.10:07:14.835 [main] INFO com.iluwatar.resource.acquisition.is.initialization.App -- Looting contents.10:07:14.835 [main] INFO com.iluwatar.resource.acquisition.is.initialization.TreasureChest -- Treasure chest closes.
When to Use the Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Pattern in Java
- Implement RAII in Java applications to manage essential resources such as file handles, network connections, and memory seamlessly.
- Suitable in environments where deterministic resource management is crucial, such as real-time systems or applications with strict resource constraints.
Real-World Applications of RAII Pattern in Java
- Java
try-with-resources
statement: Ensures that resources are closed automatically at the end of the statement. - Database connections: Using connection pools where the connection is obtained at the beginning of a scope and released at the end.
- File I/O: Automatically closing files using
try-with-resources
.
Benefits and Trade-offs of Resource Acquisition Is Initialization Pattern
Benefits:
- Automatic and deterministic resource management.
- Reduces the likelihood of resource leaks.
- Enhances code readability and maintainability by clearly defining the scope of resource usage.
Trade-offs:
- May introduce complexity in understanding object lifetimes.
- Requires careful design to ensure all resources are correctly encapsulated.
Related Java Design Patterns
- Object Pool: Manages a pool of reusable objects to optimize resource allocation and performance, often used for resources that are expensive to create and manage.