Arizona State University (ASU) CSE240 Introduction to Programming Languages Midterm Practice Exam

Exception handling is a critical feature in programming that provides a way for a program to manage errors and exceptional circumstances during execution. When a program encounters an unexpected situation, such as division by zero, an invalid input, or failure to open a file, exception handling mechanisms allow the program to respond gracefully rather than terminating abruptly.

By using constructs like try, catch, and finally in languages such as Python, Java, and C++, developers can specify the code that should be executed in the event that an error occurs. This enables the program to continue running or to shut down cleanly, rather than crashing. Additionally, it can log errors, provide informative messages to users, and allow for recovery strategies, enhancing the overall robustness and user experience of the application.

Thus, the primary function of exception handling is to give programs the capability to respond intelligently to runtime errors, ensuring that they can maintain control and functionality even when faced with unforeseen issues.