What is an auto-closeable interface in programming?

What is an auto-closeable interface in programming?

An auto-closeable interface is a feature in programming that allows resources to be automatically closed after use, typically in a try-with-resources statement.

Can you give me an example of how it works in Java?

Sure! In Java, you can implement the AutoCloseable interface in your class and use it in a try-with-resources block. For example:

class MyResource implements AutoCloseable {
    public void doSomething() {
        System.out.println("Doing something...");
    }
    @Override
    public void close() {
        System.out.println("Resource closed.");
    }
}

try (MyResource resource = new MyResource()) {
    resource.doSomething();
}

This ensures that the resource is closed automatically after the block is executed.

What happens if I forget to close a resource?

Forgetting to close a resource can lead to memory leaks and other resource exhaustion issues. Using an auto-closeable interface helps prevent this by ensuring resources are closed properly.

Are there any other languages that support similar features?

Yes, many languages have similar features. For example, C# has the using statement, and Python has context managers using the with statement.