Chapter 16:

Exceptions and
Templates

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 16.1
Exceptions

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Exceptions
Indicate that something unexpected has
occurred or been detected

Allow program to deal with the problem in

a controlled manner

Can be as simple or complex as program

design requires

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Exceptions - Terminology
Exception: object or value that signals an
error

Throw an exception: send a signal that an

error has occurred

Catch/Handle an exception: process the

exception; interpret the signal

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Exceptions – Key Words

throw – followed by an argument, is used to

throw an exception
try – followed by a block { }, is used to
invoke code that throws an exception
catch – followed by a block { }, is used to
detect and process exceptions thrown in
preceding try block. Takes a parameter that
matches the type thrown.

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Exceptions – Flow of Control

1) A function that throws an exception is called from

within a try block
2) If the function throws an exception, the function
terminates and the try block is immediately exited. A
catch block to process the exception is searched for in
the source code immediately following the try block.
3) If a catch block is found that matches the exception
thrown, it is executed. If no catch block that matches
the exception is found, the program terminates.

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Exceptions – Example (1)
// function that throws an exception
int totalDays(int days, int weeks)
{
if ((days < 0) || (days > 7))
throw "invalid number of days";
// the argument to throw is the
// character string
else
return (7 * weeks + days);
}

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Exceptions – Example (2)
try // block that calls function
{
totDays = totalDays(days, weeks);
cout << "Total days: " << days;
}
catch (char *msg) // interpret
// exception
{
cout << "Error: " << msg;
}

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Exceptions – What Happens
1) try block is entered. totalDays function is
called
2) If 1st parameter is between 0 and 7, total
number of days is returned and catch block is
skipped over (no exception thrown)
3) If exception is thrown, function and try block
are exited, catch blocks are scanned for 1st
one that matches the data type of the thrown
exception. catch block executes

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From Program 16-1

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From Program 16-1

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What Happens in theTry/Catch
Construct

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What if no exception is thrown?

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Exceptions - Notes
Predefined functions such as new may
throw exceptions
The value that is thrown does not need to
be used in catch block.
in this case, no name is needed in catch
parameter definition
catch block parameter definition does need
the type of exception being caught

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Exception Not Caught?
An exception will not be caught if
it is thrown from outside of a try block
there is no catch block that matches the data
type of the thrown exception
If an exception is not caught, the program
will terminate

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Exceptions and Objects
An exception class can be defined in a
class and thrown as an exception by a
member function
An exception class may have:
no members: used only to signal an error
members: pass error data to catch block
A class can have more than one exception
class

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Contents of Rectangle.h (Version1) (Continued)

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Program 16-2 (Continued)

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What Happens After catch
Block?
Once an exception is thrown, the program
cannot return to throw point. The function
executing throw terminates (does not
return), other calling functions in try block
terminate, resulting in unwinding the stack
If objects were created in the try block and
an exception is thrown, they are destroyed.

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Nested try Blocks
try/catch blocks can occur within an
enclosing try block
Exceptions caught at an inner level can be
passed up to a catch block at an outer level:
catch ( )
{
...
throw; // pass exception up
} // to next level

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 16.2
Function Templates

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Function Templates
Function template: a pattern for a function
that can work with many data types
When written, parameters are left for the
data types
When called, compiler generates code for
specific data types in function call

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Function Template Example
template
template <class T> prefix
T times10(T num)
generic
{ data type
return 10 * num; type
} parameter
What gets generated when What gets generated when times10 is
times10 is called with an int: called with a double:

int times10(int num) double times10(double num)

{ {
return 10 * num; return 10 * num;
} }

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Function Template Example

template <class T>

T times10(T num)
{
return 10 * num;
}
Call a template function in the usual manner:
int ival = 3;
double dval = 2.55;
cout << times10(ival); // displays 30
cout << times10(dval); // displays 25.5

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Function Template Notes
Can define a template to use multiple data types:
template<class T1, class T2>
Example:
template<class T1, class T2> // T1 and T2 will be
double mpg(T1 miles, T2 gallons) // replaced in the
{ // called function
return miles / gallons // with the data
} // types of the
// arguments

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Function Template Notes

Function templates can be overloaded Each

template must have a unique parameter list
template <class T>
T sumAll(T num) ...
template <class T1, class T2>
T1 sumall(T1 num1, T2 num2) ...

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Function Template Notes

All data types specified in template prefix

must be used in template definition
Function calls must pass parameters for
all data types specified in the template
prefix
Like regular functions, function templates
must be defined before being called

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Function Template Notes

A function template is a pattern

No actual code is generated until the function
named in the template is called
A function template uses no memory
When passing a class object to a function
template, ensure that all operators in the
template are defined or overloaded in the class
definition

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 16.3
Where to Start When Defining
Templates

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Where to Start
When Defining Templates
Templates are often appropriate for
multiple functions that perform the same
task with different parameter data types
Develop function using usual data types
first, then convert to a template:
add template prefix
convert data type names in the function to a
type parameter (i.e., a T type) in the template

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 16.4
Class Templates

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Class Templates
Classes can also be represented by
templates. When a class object is created,
type information is supplied to define the
type of data members of the class.
Unlike functions, classes are instantiated
by supplying the type name (int, double,
string, etc.) at object definition

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Class Template Example
template <class T>
class grade
{
private:
T score;
public:
grade(T);
void setGrade(T);
T getGrade()
};

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Class Template Example
Pass type information to class template
when defining objects:
grade<int> testList[20];
grade<double> quizList[20];

Use as ordinary objects once defined

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Class Templates and
Inheritance
Class templates can inherit from other class templates:
template <class T>
class Rectangle
{ ... };
template <class T>
class Square : public Rectangle<T>
{ ... };
Must use type parameter T everywhere base class
name is used in derived class

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