Standard Exception Hierarchy (std::exception, std::runtime_error)

Intermediate12 min read•Updated: 2026-10-22

🏛️ The Standard Exception Hierarchy & Custom Exceptions

Introduction

All standard C++ exception classes inherit from std::exception defined in <stdexcept>. Catching const std::exception& allows your program to intercept any standard error polymorphicly.

🌲 Standard Exception Hierarchy

                    std::exception
                          │
      ┌───────────────────┴───────────────────┐
      ▼                                       ▼
std::logic_error                      std::runtime_error
(Violations of program logic)         (Unforeseen runtime conditions)
├── invalid_argument                  ├── range_error
├── out_of_range                      ├── overflow_error
└── length_error                      └── system_error

💻 Authoring Custom Exception Classes

1#include <iostream>
2#include <stdexcept>
3#include <string>
4 
5// Custom domain exception inheriting from std::runtime_error
6class InsufficientFundsException : public std::runtime_error {
7private:
8    double m_attemptedWithdrawal;
9    double m_currentBalance;
10 
11public:
12    InsufficientFundsException(double attempted, double balance)
13        : std::runtime_error("Withdrawal exceeds available account balance!"),
14          m_attemptedWithdrawal(attempted),
15          m_currentBalance(balance) {}
16 
17    void printFinancialSummary() const {
18        std::cerr << "[AUDIT]: Attempted ₹" << m_attemptedWithdrawal 
19                  << " | Current Balance: ₹" << m_currentBalance << "\n";
20    }
21};
22 
23void performTransaction(double balance, double withdrawal) {
24    if (withdrawal > balance) {
25        throw InsufficientFundsException(withdrawal, balance);
26    }
27    std::cout << "Transaction successful. Remaining: ₹" << (balance - withdrawal) << "\n";
28}
29 
30int main() {
31    try {
32        performTransaction(5000.0, 7500.0);
33    } catch (const InsufficientFundsException& ex) {
34        std::cerr << "Caught: " << ex.what() << "\n";
35        ex.printFinancialSummary();
36    }
37    return 0;
38}

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File I/O with std::ifstream and std::ofstream

Standard Exception Hierarchy (std::exception, std::runtime_error)

Intermediate12 min read•Updated: 2026-10-22

Study Materials

🏛️ The Standard Exception Hierarchy & Custom Exceptions

Introduction

All standard C++ exception classes inherit from std::exception defined in <stdexcept>. Catching const std::exception& allows your program to intercept any standard error polymorphicly.

🌲 Standard Exception Hierarchy

                    std::exception
                          │
      ┌───────────────────┴───────────────────┐
      ▼                                       ▼
std::logic_error                      std::runtime_error
(Violations of program logic)         (Unforeseen runtime conditions)
├── invalid_argument                  ├── range_error
├── out_of_range                      ├── overflow_error
└── length_error                      └── system_error

💻 Authoring Custom Exception Classes

1#include <iostream>
2#include <stdexcept>
3#include <string>
4 
5// Custom domain exception inheriting from std::runtime_error
6class InsufficientFundsException : public std::runtime_error {
7private:
8    double m_attemptedWithdrawal;
9    double m_currentBalance;
10 
11public:
12    InsufficientFundsException(double attempted, double balance)
13        : std::runtime_error("Withdrawal exceeds available account balance!"),
14          m_attemptedWithdrawal(attempted),
15          m_currentBalance(balance) {}
16 
17    void printFinancialSummary() const {
18        std::cerr << "[AUDIT]: Attempted ₹" << m_attemptedWithdrawal 
19                  << " | Current Balance: ₹" << m_currentBalance << "\n";
20    }
21};
22 
23void performTransaction(double balance, double withdrawal) {
24    if (withdrawal > balance) {
25        throw InsufficientFundsException(withdrawal, balance);
26    }
27    std::cout << "Transaction successful. Remaining: ₹" << (balance - withdrawal) << "\n";
28}
29 
30int main() {
31    try {
32        performTransaction(5000.0, 7500.0);
33    } catch (const InsufficientFundsException& ex) {
34        std::cerr << "Caught: " << ex.what() << "\n";
35        ex.printFinancialSummary();
36    }
37    return 0;
38}

Next Lesson

File I/O with std::ifstream and std::ofstream

Continue learning with hands-on practice, examples, and exercises in the upcoming topic.

Related Lessons

Previous Lesson	Next Lesson
Exception Handling with try, catch, and throw	File I/O with std::ifstream and std::ofstream

Practice Quiz

Test your understanding of this lesson with 1 questions. Each question has one correct answer.

Previous Next