C++ Tutorial: Error Handling
try/catch/throw, exception hierarchy, custom exceptions, noexcept, RAII for error safety, and error codes.
Handling the unexpected
C++ exceptions let you separate error handling from normal code flow. When something goes wrong deep inside a function, throw an exception — it automatically unwinds the stack until a handler catches it.
RAII makes C++ exception safety elegant: destructors run during stack unwinding, so resources are released automatically even when exceptions are thrown.
What you'll learn in this C++ error handling tutorial
This interactive C++ tutorial has 6 hands-on exercises. Estimated time: 18 minutes.
- try / catch / throw — ```cpp
- Multiple catch blocks — Catch different exception types differently. Catch from most specific to most general.
- Custom exception classes — Inherit from `std::exception` or its subclasses to create domain-specific exceptions:
- noexcept — promise to never throw — `noexcept` is a function specifier promising it never throws.
- Exception safety and RAII — RAII makes exception safety automatic — destructors run during stack unwinding, releasing resources.
- Build a safe calculator — No starter code.
C++ Error Handling concepts covered
- Handling the unexpected