When an exception occurs within a method, the control flow defined by Java can take several forms.

If an exception occurs outside a try..catch block, the exception simply propagates "up" to the caller.

If an exception occurs inside a try..catch block, then the control flow can take different forms. Here are the cases, along with indicators for which code blocks are included in the control flow:
 

Case	try	catch	finally	bottom
try throws no exception	y	-	y	y
try throws a handled exception	y	y	y	y
try throws an unhandled exception	y	-	y	-

Here, "bottom" refers simply to any code which follows the finally block, as shown here :

final class Bottom {

  void doStuff() {
    try {
      //..elided
    }
    catch( Exception ex ) {
      //..elided
    }
    finally {
      //..elided
    }
    //any code appearing here, after the finally
    //block, is "bottom" code
  }
} 

There is a misconception - especially common among C programmers migrating to Java - that exceptions can be used to define ordinary control flow. This is a misuse of the idea of exceptions, which are meant only for defects or for items outside the direct control of the program.

Checked versus unchecked exceptions
Avoid basic style errors

Yes   No   Undecided