What is the difference between exceptions and error codes?

What is the difference between exceptions and error codes?

Exceptions are events that disrupt the normal flow of a program, while error codes are specific values returned to indicate an error.

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

Sure! Use exceptions for unexpected errors, like file not found, where you want to handle the error gracefully.

And when should I use error codes instead?

Error codes are useful for predictable errors, like validating user input, where you can return a specific code for each error.

Which approach is generally preferred in modern programming?

Many modern languages prefer exceptions for error handling due to their ability to separate error handling from regular code.