What is the difference between assertions and exceptions in programming?

What is the difference between assertions and exceptions in programming?

Assertions are used to check for conditions that should always be true during development, while exceptions handle errors that occur during runtime.

Can you give me an example of when to use an assertion?

Sure! You might use an assertion to check that a variable is not null before proceeding with a calculation.

And what about exceptions? When should I use them?

You should use exceptions to handle unexpected errors, like trying to read a file that doesn't exist.

Are there any performance implications of using assertions?

Yes, assertions can be disabled in production code, which can improve performance, but they should not replace error handling.