Exception handling in Java involves understanding the basics of exceptions, their hierarchy, and how to handle them effectively.Exceptions are deviations from expected rules or instructions and signal when something goes wrong during application execution.Java's exception hierarchy starts with Throwable, branching into Exception and Error, with subclasses inheriting attributes and methods.Checked exceptions must be declared or handled, while unchecked exceptions are optional to manage.Catching specific exceptions is best practice for code quality, as handling generic exceptions is discouraged.Exception handling methods include try-catch blocks to handle potential errors and throws declarations to specify potential exceptions.Centralizing exception handling in Spring Boot is preferable for code cleanliness, scalability, and easier maintenance.Using the throw statement allows explicit throwing of exceptions, enabling customized error messages and handling.Creating custom exceptions by extending existing classes like Exception or RuntimeException provides better control in error messaging and handling.Understanding how to handle, declare, and throw exceptions is essential for effective error management in Java programming.