Handling Errors: Try-Catch

The last thing we will get familiar with in this chapter is how to "capture" wrong data using the try-catch construction.

Video: Using Try-Catch

Watch this video lesson to learn how to use the try-catch statement to enter a valid integer number in certain range: https://youtu.be/0WLRjNcSh3I.

What is Try-Catch?

The try-catch construction is used to intercept and handle exceptions (errors) during the program execution.

In programming, exceptions are a notification of an event that violates the normal operation of a program. Such exceptional events interrupt the execution of the program, and it is looking for something to process the situation. If it does not find it, the exception is printed on the console. If found, the exception is processed, and the program continues its normal execution. After a while, we'll see how this happens.

When an exception is found (e.g. when we divide an integer by zero), it is said that the exception was "thrown" (throw exception).

When the exception is handled and a piece of program logic recovers the program execution from the problem, we say the we "catch the exception".

The Try-Catch Construction

The try-catch construction in C# has different forms, but for now we will use the most basic of them:

We have a piece of code (sequence of commands) inside the try block. If this code runs normally (without errors), all the commands in the try blocks are executed. If some of the commands in the try block throw and exception (in case of an error), the code execution is stopped, and the catch block is executed. In this case we say that we catch and handle the error (exception).

In the next task, we will see how to handle a situation where a user enters a non-numeric input (for example, a string instead of an int) by try-catch.

Example: Dealing with Invalid Numbers with Try-Catch

Write a program that checks if an n number is even, and if it is, prints it on the screen. If an invalid number is entered, the program should display a notification that the entered input is not a valid number and the entering of the number has to be done again.

Here's how we can solve the problem:

• We create an infinite while loop and as a condition we set true.
• In the body of the loop:
  • We create a try-catch construction.
  • In the try block we write the programming logic for reading the user input, parsing it to a number, and the check for even number.
  • If it is an even number, we print it and go out of the loop (with break). The program is done and ends.
  • If it is an odd number, we print a message saying that an even number is required without leaving the loop (because we want it to be repeated again).
  • If we catch an exception when executing the try block, we write a message for invalid input number (and the loop is repeated because we do not explicitly go out of it).

Enter Even Number – Implementation

Here is a sample implementation of the described idea:

Play with the above code. Try to enter invalid numbers (e.g. text messages), non-integer numbers, odd numbers and even numbers.

The solution should work in all cases: whether we are entering integer numbers, invalid numbers (for example, too many digits), or non-numbered text.

The above program logic will repeat in an infinite loop the process of entering a value until a valid even integer is entered.

• The int.Parse() method will throw an exception in case of an invalid integer.
• In case of a valid integer, the program will check if it is even. In this case a "success" message is shown, and the loop is stopped using break.
• In case of an odd integer, an error message is shown, and the loop repeats again.
• In case of an exception (error during the number parsing), an error message is shown, and the loop repeats again.

Testing in the Judge System

Test your solution here: https://judge.softuni.org/Contests/Practice/Index/514#12.