C++ Coding Standards: 101 Rules, Guidelines, and Best Practices

Error Handling and Exceptions

Error handling is a difficult task for which the programmer needs all the help that can be provided.

—Bjarne Stroustrup, [Stroustrup94] §16.2

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

—Alan Perlis

The question isn’t whether or not we will make programming errors; the question is whether or not we will arrange for our compiler and tools to find them for us.

This section documents hard-won wisdom and best practices, some of them gained only after years and mountains of pain. Follow these rules and guidelines. Stick to them. When it comes to writing robust, safe, and secure software, we need all the help we can get.

Our vote for the most valuable Item in this section goes to Item 69 ...