What is the difference between try-catch and if statements in C++?

What is the difference between try-catch and if statements in C++?

In C++, try-catch is used for exception handling, while if statements are for conditional checks. Try-catch can handle errors that occur during runtime, whereas if statements evaluate conditions to control the flow of the program.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! For try-catch:

try {
    // code that may throw an exception
} catch (const std::exception& e) {
    // handle the exception
}

For if statements:

if (condition) {
    // code to execute if condition is true
}

When should I use try-catch instead of if?

Use try-catch when you expect exceptions that are not easily predictable, like file I/O errors. Use if statements for known conditions that can be checked before executing code.

Are there performance differences between the two?

Yes, try-catch can introduce overhead due to stack unwinding during exceptions, while if statements are generally faster as they involve simple condition checks.