What’s exception handling?

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Exception handling is a programming construct that allows programs to handle errors during execution. Programmers can create specific actions for certain errors. It can also be useful for input parsing. Proper error handling requires attention to detail and common sense. Exception handling detects runtime errors but does not guarantee bug-free code. It allows for easier maintenance and debugging.

Exception handling is a common programming language construct that allows programs to identify and gracefully handle errors they might encounter during execution. It works by changing the flow of a program from normal execution to a specific set of mitigating actions when an error is encountered. A programmer can create specific sets of actions that are invoked when certain errors occur. Finding and handling exceptions is not necessarily a fatal event for a program; sometimes program execution may continue after exception handling occurs.

It is often possible, when programming a specific piece of code, to determine exactly where exception handling is needed. If so, most programming languages, including Java and C++, have specific keywords and control structures that can be inserted into your code to handle errors. These structures can handle a wide variety of errors, and with proper maintenance, it is often possible for a programmer to predict the majority of possible errors for a particular piece of code.

Exception handling can also be useful for input parsing. For example, when parsing numeric input, one can immediately tell if a piece of data is non-numeric if the appropriate test and exception handler is set. If an exception occurs, the handler catches it, which immediately tells the program that the input is invalid. What happens next depends on how the rest of the program is structured; it could exit, or it could continue and just ignore the invalid input.

Proper exception handling does not guarantee flawless program execution. It also does not guarantee that a program will stop after an error is found, and it does not guarantee that a program will continue. To properly handle errors, a programmer must use exception handling along with common sense and careful attention to detail. Ideally, proper error handling will allow a program to avoid the most serious types of errors, such as invalid memory access, by providing informational messages about fixable problems, such as invalid input or unexpected problems with running a program .

Exception handling detects errors called “runtime” errors; does not guarantee that the code is free from bugs or syntax errors. Handling errors in your code does not guarantee that your code is correct. It is possible for error handling to miss bugs in your code, and even the best error catching is rarely foolproof. Once debugged, the presence of exception handling allows for much easier code maintenance and future debugging if needed.




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