What is the performance impact of exceptions in C++11?

What is the performance impact of exceptions in C++11?

In C++11, exceptions can have a significant performance impact, especially if they are thrown frequently. When an exception is thrown, the stack unwinding process can be costly, and if exceptions are used in performance-critical code, it may lead to slower execution.

Are there any best practices to minimize this impact?

Yes, some best practices include using exceptions for truly exceptional cases, avoiding exceptions in performance-critical paths, and considering alternative error handling mechanisms like error codes.

How does exception handling compare to error codes in terms of performance?

Error codes generally have less overhead than exceptions, as they do not involve stack unwinding or additional runtime checks. However, exceptions can lead to cleaner code and better separation of error handling from regular logic.

Can you give an example of when to use exceptions?

Exceptions are best used in scenarios where an error is unexpected, such as failing to allocate memory or opening a file that doesn't exist. In these cases, using exceptions can simplify error handling.