What are best practices for exception handling?
💡 Concept: Exception Handling Best Practices
Effective exception handling improves application reliability and maintainability.
📘 Quick Intro
Follow structured patterns to catch, log, and recover from exceptions gracefully.
🧠 Analogy
Like having safety nets and warning signs in a factory to prevent accidents and handle emergencies.
🔧 Technical Explanation
- Catch only exceptions you can handle.
- Use specific exception types instead of general catch blocks.
- Always clean up resources in finally blocks or use using statements.
- Log exceptions with enough detail for debugging.
- Avoid swallowing exceptions silently.
🎯 Use Cases
- ✅ Validating user input.
- ✅ Handling network or file system errors.
- ✅ Ensuring proper resource disposal.
- ✅ Providing user-friendly error messages.
💻 Code Example
try {
// risky operation
var data = File.ReadAllText(""file.txt"");
}
catch (FileNotFoundException ex) {
Console.WriteLine(""File not found: "" + ex.Message);
}
catch (Exception ex) {
Console.WriteLine(""Unexpected error: "" + ex.Message);
}
finally {
Console.WriteLine(""Operation completed."");
}
❓ Interview Q&A
Q1: Should you catch all exceptions?
A: No, catch only those you can handle.
Q2: Why use specific exception types?
A: To handle errors precisely.
Q3: When to use finally?
A: To clean up resources.
Q4: Is logging important?
A: Yes, for debugging.
Q5: What is a bad practice?
A: Swallowing exceptions silently.
Q6: Can exceptions improve reliability?
A: Yes, when handled correctly.
Q7: How to avoid resource leaks?
A: Use finally or using.
Q8: Should user see technical details?
A: No, show friendly messages.
Q9: What is exception propagation?
A: Passing exceptions up the call stack.
Q10: Is catching System.Exception recommended?
A: Only as last resort.
📝 MCQs
Q1. Should you catch all exceptions?
- Yes
- No
- Sometimes
- Rarely
Q2. Why use specific exception types?
- General error handling
- Precise error handling
- Ignore errors
- Log all
Q3. When to use finally?
- Error handling
- Resource cleanup
- UI updates
- Logging
Q4. Is logging important?
- No
- Yes
- Sometimes
- Never
Q5. What is bad practice?
- Swallowing exceptions
- Logging errors
- Throwing exceptions
- Catching exceptions
Q6. Can exceptions improve reliability?
- No
- Yes
- Sometimes
- Never
Q7. How to avoid resource leaks?
- Ignore
- Use finally or using
- Catch all
- Throw exceptions
Q8. Should user see technical details?
- Yes
- No
- Sometimes
- Rarely
Q9. What is exception propagation?
- Swallowing exceptions
- Passing exceptions up
- Logging exceptions
- Handling exceptions
Q10. Is catching System.Exception recommended?
- Always
- Only as last resort
- Never
- Sometimes
💡 Bonus Insight
Good exception handling enhances software robustness and maintainability.
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