Final answer:
The throws clause of a method declares which checked exceptions might be thrown during the method's execution. Unchecked exceptions do not need to be declared. A programmer must handle or declare checked exceptions appropriately to ensure robust and error-free code.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between a method's throws clause and the exceptions that can be thrown during the method's execution in programming, particularly in Java, is one of declaration and handling. A method's throws clause is part of its signature and declares the types of checked exceptions that the method may throw. During the execution of a method, if an event occurs that disrupts the normal flow of instructions, an exception is thrown. Not all exceptions need to be declared in the throws clause of a method; only checked exceptions—those that the compiler checks must be either handled or declared—require being listed in the throws clause.
On the other hand, unchecked exceptions (such as RuntimeException and its subclasses) do not need to be declared in a method's throws clause because they indicate programmer errors such as null references or invalid arguments that should be fixed in the code rather than handled at runtime. It is important for a programmer to properly declare checked exceptions in the throws clause and handle them appropriately, either by catching the exception within the method or by allowing it to propagate to the calling method, where it must be handled or declared.