[support.exception]

# 17 Language support library [[support]](./#support)

## 17.9 Exception handling [support.exception]

### [17.9.1](#general) General [[support.exception.general]](support.exception.general)

[1](#general-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3843)

The header <exception> defines several types and functions related to the handling of exceptions in a C++ program[.](#general-1.sentence-1)

### [17.9.2](#exception.syn) Header <exception> synopsis [[exception.syn]](exception.syn)

// all freestandingnamespace std {class exception; class bad_exception; class nested_exception; using terminate_handler = void (*)();
 terminate_handler get_terminate() noexcept;
 terminate_handler set_terminate(terminate_handler f) noexcept; [[noreturn]] void terminate() noexcept; constexpr int uncaught_exceptions() noexcept; using exception_ptr = *unspecified*; constexpr exception_ptr current_exception() noexcept; [[noreturn]] constexpr void rethrow_exception(exception_ptr p); template<class E> constexpr exception_ptr make_exception_ptr(E e) noexcept; template<class E> constexpr const E* exception_ptr_cast(const exception_ptr& p) noexcept; template<class E> void exception_ptr_cast(const exception_ptr&&) = delete; template<class T> [[noreturn]] constexpr void throw_with_nested(T&& t); template<class E> constexpr void rethrow_if_nested(const E& e);}

### [17.9.3](#exception) Class exception [[exception]](exception)

[🔗](#lib:exception)

namespace std {class exception {public:constexpr exception() noexcept; constexpr exception(const exception&) noexcept; constexpr exception& operator=(const exception&) noexcept; constexpr virtual ~exception(); constexpr virtual const char* what() const noexcept; };}

[1](#exception-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3893)

The classexception defines the base
class for the types of objects thrown as exceptions by
C++ standard library components, and certain
expressions, to report errors detected during program execution[.](#exception-1.sentence-1)

[2](#exception-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3901)

Except where explicitly specified otherwise,
each standard library class T that derives from class exception has the following publicly accessible member functions, each of them having
a non-throwing exception specification ([[except.spec]](except.spec "14.5 Exception specifications")):

- [(2.1)](#exception-2.1)

default constructor (unless the class synopsis shows other constructors)

- [(2.2)](#exception-2.2)

copy constructor

- [(2.3)](#exception-2.3)

copy assignment operator

The copy constructor and the copy assignment operator meet
the following postcondition: If two objects lhs and rhs both have
dynamic type T and lhs is a copy of rhs, thenstrcmp(lhs.what(), rhs.what()) is equal to 0[.](#exception-2.sentence-1)

The what() member function of each such T satisfies the
constraints specified for exception​::​what() (see below)[.](#exception-2.sentence-2)

[🔗](#lib:exception,constructor_)

`constexpr exception(const exception& rhs) noexcept;
constexpr exception& operator=(const exception& rhs) noexcept;
`

[3](#exception-3)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3926)

*Postconditions*: If *this and rhs both have dynamic type exception then the value of the expression strcmp(what(), rhs.what()) shall equal 0[.](#exception-3.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:exception,destructor)

`constexpr virtual ~exception();
`

[4](#exception-4)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3938)

*Effects*: Destroys an object of classexception[.](#exception-4.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:what,exception)

`constexpr virtual const char* what() const noexcept;
`

[5](#exception-5)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3950)

*Returns*: An implementation-defined ntbs,
which during constant evaluation is encoded with
the ordinary literal encoding ([[lex.ccon]](lex.ccon "5.13.3 Character literals"))[.](#exception-5.sentence-1)

[6](#exception-6)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3956)

*Remarks*: The message may be a[null-terminated multibyte string](multibyte.strings#def:ntmbs "16.3.3.3.4.3 Multibyte strings [multibyte.strings]"),
suitable for conversion and display as awstring ([[string.classes]](string.classes "27.4 String classes"), [[locale.codecvt]](locale.codecvt "28.3.4.2.5 Class template codecvt"))[.](#exception-6.sentence-1)

The return value remains valid until the exception object from which
it is obtained is destroyed or a non-const member function of the exception object is called[.](#exception-6.sentence-2)

### [17.9.4](#bad.exception) Class bad_exception [[bad.exception]](bad.exception)

[🔗](#lib:bad_exception)

namespace std {class bad_exception : public exception {public:// see [[exception]](#exception "17.9.3 Class exception") for the specification of the special member functionsconstexpr const char* what() const noexcept override; };}

[1](#bad.exception-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3981)

The classbad_exception defines the type of the object
referenced by the exception_ptr returned from a call to current_exception ([[propagation]](#propagation "17.9.7 Exception propagation"))
when the currently active exception object fails to copy[.](#bad.exception-1.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:what,bad_exception)

`constexpr const char* what() const noexcept override;
`

[2](#bad.exception-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L3995)

*Returns*: An implementation-defined ntbs[.](#bad.exception-2.sentence-1)

### [17.9.5](#exception.terminate) Abnormal termination [[exception.terminate]](exception.terminate)

#### [17.9.5.1](#terminate.handler) Type terminate_handler [[terminate.handler]](terminate.handler)

[🔗](#lib:terminate_handler)

`using terminate_handler = void (*)();
`

[1](#terminate.handler-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4010)

The type of a [*handler function*](#def:handler_function) to be invoked by terminatewhen terminating exception processing[.](#terminate.handler-1.sentence-1)

[2](#terminate.handler-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4016)

*Required behavior*: A terminate_handler shall
terminate execution of the program without returning to the caller[.](#terminate.handler-2.sentence-1)

[3](#terminate.handler-3)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4021)

*Default behavior*: The implementation's default terminate_handler callsabort()[.](#terminate.handler-3.sentence-1)

#### [17.9.5.2](#set.terminate) set_terminate [[set.terminate]](set.terminate)

[🔗](#lib:set_terminate)

`terminate_handler set_terminate(terminate_handler f) noexcept;
`

[1](#set.terminate-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4036)

*Effects*: Establishes the function designated by f as the current
handler function for terminating exception processing[.](#set.terminate-1.sentence-1)

[2](#set.terminate-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4041)

*Returns*: The previous terminate_handler[.](#set.terminate-2.sentence-1)

[3](#set.terminate-3)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4045)

*Remarks*: It is unspecified whether a null pointer value designates the defaultterminate_handler[.](#set.terminate-3.sentence-1)

#### [17.9.5.3](#get.terminate) get_terminate [[get.terminate]](get.terminate)

[🔗](#lib:get_terminate)

`terminate_handler get_terminate() noexcept;
`

[1](#get.terminate-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4059)

*Returns*: The current terminate_handler[.](#get.terminate-1.sentence-1)

[*Note [1](#get.terminate-note-1)*:

This can be a null pointer value[.](#get.terminate-1.sentence-2)

— *end note*]

#### [17.9.5.4](#terminate) terminate [[terminate]](terminate)

[🔗](#lib:terminate_)

`[[noreturn]] void terminate() noexcept;
`

[1](#terminate-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4075)

*Effects*: Calls a terminate_handler function[.](#terminate-1.sentence-1)

It is unspecified whichterminate_handler function will be called if an exception is active
during a call to set_terminate[.](#terminate-1.sentence-2)

Otherwise calls the current terminate_handler function[.](#terminate-1.sentence-3)

[*Note [1](#terminate-note-1)*:

A
default terminate_handler is always considered a callable handler in
this context[.](#terminate-1.sentence-4)

— *end note*]

[2](#terminate-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4087)

*Remarks*: Called by the implementation when exception
handling must be abandoned for any of several reasons ([[except.terminate]](except.terminate "14.6.2 The std​::​terminate function"))[.](#terminate-2.sentence-1)

May also be called directly by the program[.](#terminate-2.sentence-2)

### [17.9.6](#uncaught.exceptions) uncaught_exceptions [[uncaught.exceptions]](uncaught.exceptions)

[🔗](#lib:uncaught_exceptions)

`constexpr int uncaught_exceptions() noexcept;
`

[1](#uncaught.exceptions-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4102)

*Returns*: The number of uncaught exceptions ([[except.throw]](except.throw "14.2 Throwing an exception")) in the current thread[.](#uncaught.exceptions-1.sentence-1)

[2](#uncaught.exceptions-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4106)

*Remarks*: When uncaught_exceptions() > 0,
throwing an exception can result in a call of the function[std​::​terminate](except.terminate "14.6.2 The std​::​terminate function [except.terminate]")[.](#uncaught.exceptions-2.sentence-1)

### [17.9.7](#propagation) Exception propagation [[propagation]](propagation)

[🔗](#lib:exception_ptr)

`using exception_ptr = unspecified;
`

[1](#propagation-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4121)

The type exception_ptr can be used to refer to an exception object[.](#propagation-1.sentence-1)

[2](#propagation-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4124)

exception_ptr meets the requirements of[*Cpp17NullablePointer*](nullablepointer.requirements#:Cpp17NullablePointer "16.4.4.4 Cpp17NullablePointer requirements [nullablepointer.requirements]") (Table [36](nullablepointer.requirements#tab:cpp17.nullablepointer "Table 36: Cpp17NullablePointer requirements"))[.](#propagation-2.sentence-1)

[3](#propagation-3)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4128)

Two non-null values of type exception_ptr are equivalent and compare equal if and
only if they refer to the same exception[.](#propagation-3.sentence-1)

[4](#propagation-4)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4132)

The default constructor of exception_ptr produces the null value of the
type[.](#propagation-4.sentence-1)

[5](#propagation-5)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4136)

exception_ptr shall not be implicitly convertible to any arithmetic,
enumeration, or pointer type[.](#propagation-5.sentence-1)

[6](#propagation-6)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4140)

[*Note [1](#propagation-note-1)*:

An implementation can use a reference-counted smart
pointer as exception_ptr[.](#propagation-6.sentence-1)

— *end note*]

[7](#propagation-7)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4146)

For purposes of determining the presence of a data race, operations onexception_ptr objects shall access and modify only theexception_ptr objects themselves and not the exceptions they refer to[.](#propagation-7.sentence-1)

Use of rethrow_exception or exception_ptr_cast on exception_ptr objects that refer to
the same exception object shall not introduce a data race[.](#propagation-7.sentence-2)

[*Note [2](#propagation-note-2)*:

Ifrethrow_exception rethrows the same exception object (rather than a copy),
concurrent access to that rethrown exception object can introduce a data race[.](#propagation-7.sentence-3)

Changes in the number of exception_ptr objects that refer to a
particular exception do not introduce a data race[.](#propagation-7.sentence-4)

— *end note*]

[8](#propagation-8)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4161)

All member functions are marked constexpr[.](#propagation-8.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:current_exception)

`constexpr exception_ptr current_exception() noexcept;
`

[9](#propagation-9)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4171)

*Returns*: An exception_ptr object that refers to the[currently handled exception](except.handle#def:exception_handling,currently_handled_exception "14.4 Handling an exception [except.handle]") or a copy of the currently
handled exception, or a null exception_ptr object if no exception is being
handled[.](#propagation-9.sentence-1)

The referenced object shall remain valid at least as long as there is anexception_ptr object that refers to it[.](#propagation-9.sentence-2)

If the function needs to allocate memory and the attempt fails, it returns anexception_ptr object that refers to an instance of bad_alloc[.](#propagation-9.sentence-3)

It is unspecified whether the return values of two successive calls tocurrent_exception refer to the same exception object[.](#propagation-9.sentence-4)

[*Note [3](#propagation-note-3)*:

That is, it is unspecified whether current_exception creates a new copy each time it is called[.](#propagation-9.sentence-5)

— *end note*]

If the attempt to copy the current exception object throws an exception, the function
returns an exception_ptr object that refers to the thrown exception or,
if this is not possible, to an instance of bad_exception[.](#propagation-9.sentence-6)

[*Note [4](#propagation-note-4)*:

The copy constructor of the thrown exception can also fail,
so the implementation can substitute a bad_exception object
to avoid infinite recursion[.](#propagation-9.sentence-7)

— *end note*]

[🔗](#lib:rethrow_exception)

`[[noreturn]] constexpr void rethrow_exception(exception_ptr p);
`

[10](#propagation-10)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4203)

*Preconditions*: p is not a null pointer[.](#propagation-10.sentence-1)

[11](#propagation-11)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4207)

*Effects*: Let u be the exception object to which p refers, or
a copy of that exception object[.](#propagation-11.sentence-1)

It is unspecified whether a copy is made, and
memory for the copy is allocated in an unspecified way[.](#propagation-11.sentence-2)

- [(11.1)](#propagation-11.1)

If allocating memory to form u fails,
throws an instance of bad_alloc;

- [(11.2)](#propagation-11.2)

otherwise, if copying the exception to which p refers
to form u throws an exception, throws that exception;

- [(11.3)](#propagation-11.3)

otherwise, throws u.

[🔗](#lib:make_exception_ptr)

`template<class E> constexpr exception_ptr make_exception_ptr(E e) noexcept;
`

[12](#propagation-12)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4231)

*Effects*: Creates an exception_ptr object that refers to a copy of e, as if:try {throw e;} catch(...) {return current_exception();}

[13](#propagation-13)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4242)

[*Note [5](#propagation-note-5)*:

This function is provided for convenience and
efficiency reasons[.](#propagation-13.sentence-1)

— *end note*]

[🔗](#lib:exception_ptr_cast)

`template<class E> constexpr const E* exception_ptr_cast(const exception_ptr& p) noexcept;
`

[14](#propagation-14)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4255)

*Mandates*: E is a cv-unqualified complete object type[.](#propagation-14.sentence-1)

E is not an array type[.](#propagation-14.sentence-2)

E is not a pointer or pointer-to-member type[.](#propagation-14.sentence-3)

[*Note [6](#propagation-note-6)*:

When E is a pointer or pointer-to-member type,
a handler of type const E& can match
without binding to the exception object itself[.](#propagation-14.sentence-4)

— *end note*]

[15](#propagation-15)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4266)

*Returns*: A pointer to the exception object referred to by p,
if p is not null and
a handler of type const E& would be a match ([[except.handle]](except.handle "14.4 Handling an exception")) for that exception object[.](#propagation-15.sentence-1)

Otherwise, nullptr[.](#propagation-15.sentence-2)

### [17.9.8](#except.nested) nested_exception [[except.nested]](except.nested)

[🔗](#lib:nested_exception)

namespace std {class nested_exception {public:constexpr nested_exception() noexcept; constexpr nested_exception(const nested_exception&) noexcept = default; constexpr nested_exception& operator=(const nested_exception&) noexcept = default; constexpr virtual ~nested_exception() = default; // access functions[[noreturn]] constexpr void rethrow_nested() const; constexpr exception_ptr nested_ptr() const noexcept; }; template<class T> [[noreturn]] constexpr void throw_with_nested(T&& t); template<class E> constexpr void rethrow_if_nested(const E& e);}

[1](#except.nested-1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4297)

The class nested_exception is designed for use as a mixin through
multiple inheritance[.](#except.nested-1.sentence-1)

It captures the currently handled exception and stores it
for later use[.](#except.nested-1.sentence-2)

[2](#except.nested-2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4302)

[*Note [1](#except.nested-note-1)*:

nested_exception has a virtual destructor to make it a
polymorphic class[.](#except.nested-2.sentence-1)

Its presence can be tested for with dynamic_cast[.](#except.nested-2.sentence-2)

— *end note*]

[🔗](#lib:nested_exception,constructor)

`constexpr nested_exception() noexcept;
`

[3](#except.nested-3)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4314)

*Effects*: The constructor calls current_exception() and stores the returned value[.](#except.nested-3.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:rethrow_nested,nested_exception)

`[[noreturn]] constexpr void rethrow_nested() const;
`

[4](#except.nested-4)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4325)

*Effects*: If nested_ptr() returns a null pointer, the function calls the function std​::​terminate[.](#except.nested-4.sentence-1)

Otherwise, it throws the stored exception captured by *this[.](#except.nested-4.sentence-2)

[🔗](#lib:nested_ptr,nested_exception)

`constexpr exception_ptr nested_ptr() const noexcept;
`

[5](#except.nested-5)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4337)

*Returns*: The stored exception captured by this nested_exception object[.](#except.nested-5.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:throw_with_nested,nested_exception)

`template<class T> [[noreturn]] constexpr void throw_with_nested(T&& t);
`

[6](#except.nested-6)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4348)

Let U be decay_t<T>[.](#except.nested-6.sentence-1)

[7](#except.nested-7)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4351)

*Preconditions*: U meets the [*Cpp17CopyConstructible*](utility.arg.requirements#:Cpp17CopyConstructible "16.4.4.2 Template argument requirements [utility.arg.requirements]") requirements[.](#except.nested-7.sentence-1)

[8](#except.nested-8)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4355)

*Throws*: If is_class_v<U> && !is_final_v<U> && !is_base_of_v<nested_exception, U> is true,
an exception of unspecified type that is publicly derived from bothU and nested_exception and constructed from std​::​forward<T>(t), otherwisestd​::​forward<T>(t)[.](#except.nested-8.sentence-1)

[🔗](#lib:rethrow_if_nested,nested_exception)

`template<class E> constexpr void rethrow_if_nested(const E& e);
`

[9](#except.nested-9)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/support.tex#L4371)

*Effects*: If E is not a polymorphic class type, or
if nested_exception is an inaccessible or ambiguous base class of E,
there is no effect[.](#except.nested-9.sentence-1)

Otherwise, performs:if (auto p = dynamic_cast<const nested_exception*>(addressof(e))) p->rethrow_nested();