Java – Converts URLs to paths without throwing exceptions

A common scenario I’m having is when I want to do some IO on local resources in my project. The easiest way to access a local resource is getClass().getResource("path"), which returns a URL. * The easiest way to access IO content is through Files.XXX most of the time java.nio.Path is required.

Converting URLs to paths is easy: Paths.get(url.toURI()). Unfortunately, this may throw a URISyntaxException that I have to catch now. I don’t understand why, it’s annoying, ugly, I’ve never got it, I hate it.

Now the real question is: is there another way to access a local resource as a path or convert a URL to a path without throwing an exception?

• I know there is also getResourceAsStream(), but a simple InputStream is usually not enough.

Look at the Javadoc for URL.toURI() and you’ll see :

Returns a URI equivalent to this URL . This method functions in the same way as new URI (this.toString()).

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This method is the same as calling the URI(String) constructor, which is the source of a possible URISyntaxException. However, if you look at the URI class, you’ll find a static factory method: URI.create(String) The Javadoc for this method states:

Creates a URI by parsing the given string.

This convenience factory method works as if by invoking the URI(String) constructor; any URISyntaxException thrown by the constructor is caught and wrapped in a new IllegalArgumentException object, which is then thrown.

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This means that both URL.toURI() and URI.create(String) call the new URI(String). The difference is that URI.create(String) throws an unchecked IllegalArgumentException, which means you don’t have to use try-catch blocks everywhere. You can use the following:

URL resource = getClass().getResource("/path/to/resource");
Path path = Paths.get(URI.create(resource.toString()));