StreamResourceLeak
Streams that encapsulate a closeable resource should be closed using try-with-resources

Alternate names: FilesLinesLeak

The problem

The problem is described in the javadoc for Files.

Files.newDirectoryStream

When not using the try-with-resources construct, then directory stream’s close method should be invoked after iteration is completed so as to free any resources held for the open directory.

Files.list

The returned stream encapsulates a DirectoryStream. If timely disposal of file system resources is required, the try-with-resources construct should be used to ensure that the stream’s close method is invoked after the stream operations are completed.

Files.walk

The returned stream encapsulates one or more DirectoryStreams. If timely disposal of file system resources is required, the try-with-resources construct should be used to ensure that the stream’s close method is invoked after the stream operations are completed. Operating on a closed stream will result in an IllegalStateException.

Files.find

The returned stream encapsulates one or more DirectoryStreams. If timely disposal of file system resources is required, the try-with-resources construct should be used to ensure that the stream’s close method is invoked after the stream operations are completed. Operating on a closed stream will result in an IllegalStateException.

Files.lines

The returned stream encapsulates a Reader. If timely disposal of file system resources is required, the try-with-resources construct should be used to ensure that the stream’s close method is invoked after the stream operations are completed.

The solution

To ensure the stream is closed, always use try-with-resources. For example, when using Files.lines, do this:

String input;
try (Stream<String> stream = Files.lines(path)) {
  input = stream.collect(Collectors.joining(", "));
}

Not this:

// the Reader is never closed!
String input = Files.lines(path).collect(Collectors.joining(", ");

What about methods that return closeable streams?

Methods that return Streams that encapsulate a closeable resource can be annotated with com.google.errorprone.annotations.MustBeClosed to ensure their callers remember to close the stream.

Suppression

Suppress false positives by adding the suppression annotation @SuppressWarnings("StreamResourceLeak") to the enclosing element.