Whenever an Error occurs Exception arises. Error is a bug whereas exception is a warning or error condition.
In PL/SQL, an exception and an error are related concepts but have distinct meanings:
- Error:
- An error generally refers to any unexpected or undesirable event that occurs during the execution of a program.
- Errors can be of various types, including syntax errors, runtime errors, and logical errors.
- Syntax errors are mistakes in the structure of the code and are identified by the compiler before the program is executed.
- Runtime errors occur during the execution of the program and can be caused by issues like division by zero, attempting to access an index that is out of bounds, etc.
- Logical errors are more subtle and may not be immediately apparent; they involve mistakes in the algorithm or logic of the program.
- Exception:
- An exception, on the other hand, is a specific type of error that occurs at runtime and disrupts the normal flow of a program.
- Exceptions are explicitly raised or thrown by the program when a predefined condition is met, such as dividing by zero or attempting to insert a duplicate key into a unique index.
- PL/SQL provides a structured way to handle exceptions using a combination of
BEGIN,EXCEPTION, andENDblocks. You can catch and handle exceptions to gracefully manage errors in your program.
In summary, an error is a broad term that encompasses various unexpected events in a program, while an exception is a specific type of error that is explicitly raised and can be handled within the program. Handling exceptions allows for more robust and controlled error management in PL/SQL programs.