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Code & Deliverynoun · /ɪkˈsepʃən/

exception

In simple English

In software development, an exception is a runtime error or abnormal condition that interrupts the normal execution of a program. When something unexpected happens—like dividing by zero, accessing a null value, or a network timeout—the program throws an exception. Developers use exception handling (try-catch blocks) to anticipate these problems and write code that gracefully responds to them rather than crashing. Exceptions are central to writing robust software. Instead of checking error codes manually, modern programming languages use exceptions to signal problems clearly. You will hear phrases like 'throw an exception,' 'catch an exception,' or 'handle an exception' in code reviews and standups. Understanding exception handling is critical because unhandled exceptions cause application failures, poor user experience, and production incidents. There are also different types of exceptions: some are checked (must be handled by the programmer), others are unchecked (runtime errors). Knowing which exceptions your code can throw helps teammates understand potential failure points and write safer code.

What is an exception in programming and how do you handle them in code?

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility5/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓throw an exception
✓catch an exception
✓handle an exception gracefully
✓unhandled exception
✓exception occurs

Real examples

in a standup

"We discovered an exception in the payment module that was causing timeouts during checkout."

in a code review

"You should wrap this in a try-catch block to handle the possible FileNotFoundException exception."

in a team meeting

"The production incident was caused by an unhandled exception when the database connection failed."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Non-technical speakers may confuse this with the general English meaning (something that does not follow the rule). In tech, it is specifically an error event during program execution.

✕We have many exceptions in our code.
✓We have many exception handlers in our code.— Exceptions themselves are errors. You do not want to have many of them; you want to handle them well.
✕The system will exception if you enter an invalid password.
✓The system will throw an exception if you enter an invalid password.— Exception is a noun; you cannot use it as a verb. Use 'throw' or 'raise' instead.
✕We need to exception this problem before launch.
✓We need to handle this exception before launch.— The verb forms are 'throw,' 'catch,' or 'handle,' not 'exception.'

Other forms

noun

exception

"The application crashed due to an unhandled exception in the login service."

noun (plural)

exceptions

"You should document all exceptions that your API can throw."

adjective

exceptional

"The error handling in this code is exceptional."

Often used with

throw an exceptionThe code explicitly raises an error when a condition is not met.
catch an exceptionTo write code that intercepts and responds to an exception using a catch block.
handle an exceptionTo write code that processes an exception gracefully without crashing.
unhandled exceptionAn exception that was not caught or handled, causing the program to crash.
exception handlingThe programming technique of anticipating and responding to exceptions.
raise an exceptionSynonym for throw; to signal an error condition (common in Python).

Similar words

errorBroader term; an exception is a specific type of runtime error that code can respond to.
runtime errorAny error that occurs while the program is running; exceptions are structured runtime errors.
faultLess common in modern tech; exception is the standard term in programming.

Opposites

successnormal execution

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your API throws an error when data is missing. How do you describe this?

Complete the sentence

2. We should _______ this NullPointerException before deploying to production.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses 'exception' incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite using 'exception' or related terms: 'When the user clicks submit, something goes wrong and the app stops.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "exception" in a standup this week?

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