What is the difference between exception handling and error handling?

What is the difference between exception handling and error handling?

Exception handling refers to the process of responding to the occurrence of exceptions, which are unexpected events that disrupt the normal flow of a program. Error handling, on the other hand, deals with errors that occur during the execution of a program, often focusing on preventing crashes.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! An example of exception handling is using try-catch blocks in languages like Java or Python to catch exceptions and handle them gracefully. For error handling, you might validate user input before processing it to avoid runtime errors.

Are there specific scenarios where one is preferred over the other?

Yes, exception handling is preferred when dealing with unpredictable issues like file not found errors, while error handling is better for anticipated issues like validating user input.

How do different programming languages implement these concepts?

Different languages have their own syntax and mechanisms. For example, Java uses try-catch-finally blocks for exceptions, while JavaScript uses try-catch and promises for asynchronous error handling.