Exception vs. Error

Problems in a computer program can typically be divided into two categories: exceptions and errors. While these terms are used interchangeably by many programmers, there is a specific difference between these two types of problems. In this course, we’ll try to stick to the following convention:

• Exception: An exception is a problem encountered by a running computer program (we could also say “at runtime”) which can be handled, or detected and corrected, by the program itself. This may include asking the user to provide new input, manipulating data, or retrying an operation that failed.
• Error: An error is a problem which cannot be solved by the program itself, and usually results in the program’s termination. This could include syntax errors and unexpected system issues, such as a lack of memory.

We’ll see many examples of both exceptions and errors later in this chapter.