C++ Try-Catch Blocks

Try-catch blocks are fundamental to exception handling in C++. They provide a structured way to handle runtime errors and unexpected situations in your code.

Understanding Try-Catch Blocks

A try-catch block consists of two main parts:

• The try block: Contains code that might throw an exception
• The catch block: Handles the exception if one is thrown

Basic Syntax

try {
    // Code that might throw an exception
} catch (ExceptionType e) {
    // Code to handle the exception
}
    

You can have multiple catch blocks to handle different types of exceptions. This allows for more specific error handling based on the exception type.

Example: Division by Zero

Here's a simple example demonstrating how to use try-catch blocks to handle a division by zero error:

#include <iostream>
#include <stdexcept>

int main() {
    int numerator = 10;
    int denominator = 0;

    try {
        if (denominator == 0) {
            throw std::runtime_error("Division by zero!");
        }
        int result = numerator / denominator;
        std::cout << "Result: " << result << std::endl;
    } catch (const std::exception& e) {
        std::cerr << "Error: " << e.what() << std::endl;
    }

    return 0;
}
    

Best Practices

• Use specific exception types when possible
• Catch exceptions by reference to avoid object slicing
• Keep try blocks as small as possible
• Don't use exceptions for normal flow control

Advanced Usage: Multiple Catch Blocks

You can use multiple catch blocks to handle different types of exceptions:

try {
    // Code that might throw different types of exceptions
} catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
    // Handle runtime errors
} catch (const std::logic_error& e) {
    // Handle logic errors
} catch (...) {
    // Catch-all for any other exceptions
}
    

Related Concepts

To fully understand exception handling in C++, you should also explore:

• C++ Throwing Exceptions
• C++ Custom Exceptions
• C++ Exception Specifications

Try-catch blocks are essential for robust error handling in C++. They help create more reliable and maintainable code by providing a structured way to deal with exceptional situations.