Exception Handling and References in C++

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Going to Delhi by Train

 Imagine that I am going to Delhi by train today night

 Train is by 9:30 pm from Central station

 Approximately it takes 1:15 to reach station from VIT

 When shall I leave?

 I will plan to leave atleast by 7 pm

 Why?

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Going to Delhi by Train

 The right travel time cannot be predicted.

 There may be a delay in getting bus, traffic jam, tyre

puncture, I fall down....

 These are exceptions

 I handle the exceptions by starting early to station

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Exception
 Unexpected situation may occur while using a software
 Must be taken care during development of it
 For example, if you are writing a function that retrieves a
Web page, several things could go wrong. The Internet
host that contains the page might be down, the page
might come back blank, or the connection could be lost.
 In many programming languages, you would
handle this situation by returning a special value from
the function, such as the NULL pointer.
 Exceptions provide a much better mechanism for dealing
with problems.
WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
 Estimate Voltage Problem

 Design and implement a model of an ideal transformer.

If you have a single iron core with wire1 coiled around
the core N1 times and wire2 wound around the core
N2 times, and if wire1 is attached to a source of
alternating current, then the voltage in wire1 (the input
voltage V1) is related to the voltage in wire2 (the
output voltage V2) as

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Problem

 Given „n‟ values of V2, N1 and N2 compute V1 which is

given by V2*N1/N2 . If the value of V1 is less than 230
print “less” and print “more” otherwise.

 What happens if N2 is zero?

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
Program terminates unexpectedly
Serious problem in case of real time systems
WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
 Therac 25
Radiation therapy machine produced by Atomic
Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) in 1982 after the
Therac-6 and Therac-20 units

A real time system

Used for giving radiation therapy to cancer patients

was written in assembly language PDP 11

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
 Why??

Failed to handle unexpected situation

Was designed with a perfect environment in mind

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Integer Overflow
The bug that caused the second overdose at the
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital was a result of
integer overflow
During the setup phase of the treatment, the
program used a counter to indicate whether the
inputted parameters matched the prescribed
treatment.
If the parameters matched, the value of the counter
was set to zero,WIN
and the treatment could proceed.
2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
 Integer Overflow
Otherwise, the counter was incremented.
The problem was that the counter was stored as an 8-
bit integer, so it could hold a maximum value of 255.
If the counter incremented again, it would wrap around
back to zero.
If the operator attempted to start the treatment at the
precise time when the counter wrapped around to zero,
then they could start treatment with the incorrect
prescription WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
 Navy Smart Ship dead in the water

USS Yorktown (DDG-48/CG-48) was a

Ticonderoga-class cruiser in the United States
Navy from 1984 to 2004
In 1998, Yorktown was dead in the water for
about two hours and 45 minutes, fleet officials
said, and did not have to be towed in.

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Why?

Because its computers were unable to divide by

the number zero
Failed to handle unexpected situation

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 Why Exception?

Compute the expression a/(b-c) repeatedly, for n times

Algorithm:
Step1: Get the input for number of times the operation has to be repeated , say n
Step2: Repeat until n less than zero
Step2: Get the input for a, b and c
Step3: Check for b and c unequality
Step4: if b and c are unequal , perform the operation a/(b-c),
Step5: else throw exception saying divide by zero and continue for next iteration
 Exception Handling
 Exception: An unwanted unexpected event that disturbs normal
flow of the program is called exception.
 Example:
SleepingException
TyrePunchuredException
FileNotFoundException ...etc
 It is highly recommended to handle exceptions. The main
objective of exception handling is graceful (normal) termination of
the program.

These type of situation can be handled by Exception handling

mechanism available in C++.

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

void operation(double a, double b,double c) {
try { Enter numerator (0 to stop): 18
if(b==c) Enter denominator1: 6
throw b; // check for divide-by-zero Enter denominator2: 2
cout << "Result: " << a/(b-c) << endl; Result: 4.5
} Enter numerator (0 to stop): 18
catch (double b) { Enter denominator1: 6
cout << "Can't divide by zero.\n";} Enter denominator2: 6
} Can't divide by zero.
int main() { Enter numerator (0 to stop): 27
double i, j,k; Enter denominator1: 9
do { Enter denominator2: 6
cout << "Enter numerator (0 to stop): "; Result: 9
cin >> i; Enter numerator (0 to stop): 27
cout << "Enter denominator1: "; Enter denominator1: 9
cin >> j; Enter denominator2: 9
cout << "Enter denominator2: "; Can't divide by zero.
cin >> k; Enter numerator (0 to stop): 14
operation(i, j,k); Enter denominator1: 6
} while(i != 0); Enter denominator2: 4
return 0; Result: 7
} Enter numerator (0 to stop): 0
Enter denominator1: 4
Enter denominator2: 2
 Exception handling Mechanism

The purpose of the exception handling is to provide a mechanism to

detect and report
the „exceptional circumstances‟ in the program so that appropriate
action can be taken.

This process involves separate error handling code that performs the
following tasks
 Identify the problem (Hit the exception)

 Report that an error has occurred (Throw the exception)

 Receive the error information (Catch the exception)

 Take corrective actions (Handles the exception)

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 Exception Handling Model

try block

Detects and throws

an exception

Exception object

catch block

Catches and handles

an exception

20
 The keyword try is used to preface a block of statements
surrounded by braces which may be generating
exceptions; this block of statements is known as try
block

 When an exception is detected, it is thrown using a throw

statement in the try block

 A catch block is defined by the keyword catch catches

the exception thrown by the throw statement in the try
block and handles it appropriately

21
 Exception Handling: Format
try
{
……
throw exception; // block of statements
// which detects and
// throws an exception
}

catch (type arg) // catches exception

{
……….
………. // block of statements that
………. // handles the exception
}

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 Throw point

Function that causes

an exception

Throw exception Invoke function

try block

invokes a function that

contains an exception

catch block

Catches and handles

an exception

26
 Most often, exceptions are thrown by functions that are invoked
from within the try block
 The point at which the throw block is executed is called the throw
point

 Once an exception is thrown to the catch block, control cannot

return to the throw point

27
Invoking Function that Generates Exception
inside the try block
void divide (int x, int y, intz){
inside the function
cout << " inside the function \n “;
Result = 3
if (( x-y) !=0)
Caught the exception
{ int R = z/(x–y) ;
cout<< " Result = “ << R << “\n”; }
else // there is a problem
{throw (x-y);// throw point }
}
void main() {
try {cout<< ” inside the try block \n”;
divide(20,10,30); // Invoke divide
divide(30,30,60); // Invoke divide
}
catch (int i) {
cout<< “ caught the exception \n “;
}
} 28
 Catching Mechanism

A catch block looks like a function definition and is of the form:

catch (type arg)
{
// statements for managing exceptions
}
The type indicates the type of exception that catch block handles.
The parameter arg is an optional parameter name; the catch
statement catches an exception whose type matches with the type
of catch argument,when it is caught, the code in the catch block is
executed.

29
 Multiple Catch Statements
 It is possible that a program segment has more than one condition to throw an
exception; such cases, you can associate more than one catch statements with a try as
shown in the following code
try
{ // try block }
catch (type1 arg)
{ // catch block1 }
catch (type2 arg)
{ // catch block2 }
……….
……….
catch (typeN arg)
{ // catch blockN }

30
 catch(char c)
{ cout<<"caught a charcter"<<endl; }
catch(int m)
#include<iostream> {cout<<"caught a integer"<<endl; }
using namespace std; catch(double d)
void test(int x) { cout<<"caught a float"<<endl;}
{ cout<<"end of try catch"<<endl;
try }
{ main()
if(x==1) {
throw x; cout<<"testing multpile catches"<<endl;
else cout<<"x==1"<<endl;
if(x==0) test(1);
throw 'x'; cout<<"x==0"<<endl;
else test(0);
if(x==-1) cout<<"x==-1"<<endl;
throw 1.0; test(-1);
cout<<"end of try"<<endl; } cout<<"x==2"<<endl;
test(2);
}

WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming

 32

void Xhandler(int test) {

try{ void main() {
if(test) throw test; cout << "Start\n";
else throw "Value is zero"; Xhandler(1); Xhandler(2);
} Xhandler(0); Xhandler(3);
catch(int i) { cout << “End"; }
cout << "Caught Exception #: " << i;
} Start
catch(const char *str) { Caught Exception #:1
cout << "Caught a string: "; Caught Exception #:2
cout << str << '\n'; Caught a string: Value is zero
} Caught Exception #:3
} End
 Catch All Exceptions
 In some situations, you may not be able to anticipate all possible type of
exceptions and defining unique catch handlers to catch the appropriate one

 In such situations you can force a catch statement to catch all exceptions
instead of a certain type alone

For example:
catch ( …)
{
// statements for processing all exceptions
}

33
void test ( int x) {
try
{ if(x==0) throw x; //int
if(x==-1) throw „x‟; //char
if(x==1) throw 1.0; //float
}
catch(…) // catch all
{
cout<<” caught an exception”;
}
}
void main() {
cout << “ Test for common catch “;
test(-1); test(0); test(1);
}

34
 Independent Reference
Scenario: Assume you are Mr. Edwin and also you have a pet name called Buddy in your
home. When Buddy is ill, shall Edwin can take a pill to get cured. This is practically
possible, even though the names are different, body is single. A body can be
referred by different name.

Similarly in computer memory, basically memory locations are referred by identifier or

variable name. You can create any number of reference to a memory cell. This is called
independent reference or reference alias. All the reference variable you had binded point the
same memory only

35
 Reference Variable
 A reference is an alias; when you create a reference, you initialize it with the name of
another object, the target
 From that moment on, the reference acts as an alternative name for the target, and
anything you do to the reference is really done to the target

int &rSomeRef = someInt;

"rSomeRef is a reference to an integer that is initialized to refer to someInt
// Demonstrating the use of References
int main() {
int intOne;
int &rSomeRef = intOne;
intOne = 5;
cout << "intOne: " << intOne << endl;
cout << "rSomeRef: " << rSomeRef << endl;
rSomeRef = 7;
cout << "intOne: " << intOne << endl;
cout << "rSomeRef: " << rSomeRef << endl;
}
Output: intOne: 5
rSomeRef: 5
intOne: 7
rSomeRef: 7
Test of understanding on References

int main() { If so, you made the most common mistake

int x = 7; (don‟t feel bad, it‟s a trick question). Refer
int & ref = x; again to this statement:
ref = 8; ref = y;
int y = 10; This statement did not point ref to y
ref = y; instead, it was exactly as if I had written
cout << “x = “ << x; this
cout << “ y = “ << y; x = y;
cout << “ ref = “ << ref << endl; Thus, here is the correct answer:
}
The question is, what will this print? Stop
reading here until you know the answer.
Did you answer this way:
x = 8, y = 10, ref = 10

38
 One or more reference can be binded to the same variable, all reference variable refers
the same target
int main() {
int a=10;
int &a1ref=a;
int &a2ref=a;
int &a3ref=a;
int &a4ref=a;
int &a5ref=a;
++a1re; ++a2ref; ++a3ref; ++a4ref; ++a5ref;
cout<<" a is "<<a; }

a is 15

39
WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
WIN 2015-16, CSE1002 Problem Solving with Object Oriented Programming
 Passing Function Argument by Reference
Problem:
Assume that in a banking operation scenario, you are making a fund transfer operation
from one account to the other of the same bank and branch. Here after transaction, the
balance amount field in both the objects should be updated, i.e. debit should happen in
source account and credit should happen in destination account which in turn update the
balance amount field of both the objects.
To enable these type of operation successfully, both the objects involved in the above
operation should be send by reference, failing which inconsistent data may prevail in the
operating objects
 Passing Function Argument by Reference
 Functions has two limitations: Arguments are passed by value, and the return statement
can return only one value
 Passing values to a function by reference can overcome both of these limitations.
 In C++, passing by reference is accomplished in two ways: using pointers and using
references.
 The syntax is different, but the net effect is the same.
 Rather than a copy being created within the scope of the function, the actual original
object is passed into the function.
 Passing Function Argument by Reference is also called as returning multiple arguments
 Demonstrates passing by value
#include<stdio.h>
printf("\n in main after transfer");
struct bank
printf("\n b1.balanceis %f",b1.balance);
{int accno;
printf("\n b2.balanceis %f",b2.balance);
float balance;
}
};
void fundtransfer(struct bank b1,struct bank
void fundtransfer(struct bank,struct bank,float); b2,float amount)
int main() { {
float amount; printf("\n in function before transfer");
struct bank b1={101,1500}; printf("\n b1.balanceis %f",b1.balance);
struct bank b2={102,3000}; printf("\n b2.balanceis %f",b2.balance);
printf("enter the amount to be credited"); b1.balance=b1.balance+amount;
scanf("%f",&amount); b2.balance=b2.balance-amount;
printf("\n in main before transfer"); printf("\n in function after transfer");
printf("\n b1.balance is %f",b1.balance); printf("\n b1.balanceis %f",b1.balance);
printf("\n b2.balance is %f",b2.balance); printf("\n b2.balanceis %f",b2.balance);
fundtransfer(b1,b2,amount); }
Output:
enter the amount to be credited 1000

in main before transfer

b1.balance is 1500.000000
b2.balance is 3000.000000
in function before transfer
b1.balanceis 1500.000000
b2.balanceis 3000.000000
in function after transfer
b1.balanceis 2500.000000
b2.balanceis 2000.000000
in main after transfer
b1.balanceis 1500.000000
b2.balanceis 3000.000000
45
 Demonstrates passing by Reference
Output
void fundtransfer(struct bank&,struct enter the amount to be credited : 1000
bank&,float);

in main before transfer

void fundtransfer(struct bank &b1,struct
b1.balance is 1500.000000
bank &b2,float amount)
b2.balance is 3000.000000
in function before transfer
b1.balanceis 1500.000000
b2.balanceis 3000.000000
in function after transfer
b1.balanceis 2500.000000
b2.balanceis 2000.000000
in main after transfer
b1.balanceis 2500.000000
b2.balanceis 2000.000000
 Demonstrates passing by Address
void fundtransfer(struct bank*,struct
Output:
bank*,float);
enter the amount to be credited 1000
void fundtransfer(struct bank *b1,struct
bank *b2,float amount)
{ in main before transfer
printf("\n in function before transfer"); b1.balance is 1500.000000
printf("\n b1.balanceis %f",b1- b2.balance is 3000.000000
>balance); in function before transfer
printf("\n b2.balanceis %f",b2- b1.balanceis 1500.000000
>balance); b2.balanceis 3000.000000
b1->balance=b1->balance+amount; in function after transfer
b2->balance=b2->balance-amount; b1.balanceis 2500.000000
printf("\n in function after transfer"); b2.balanceis 2000.000000
printf("\n b1.balanceis %f",b1- in main after transfer
>balance); b1.balanceis 2500.000000
printf("\n b2.balanceis %f",b2- b2.balanceis 2000.000000
>balance);
}
 Function Return by Reference
Scenario : Assume a function works on multiple values of a data set ( say array), it bound to
return the address of one of the elements of an array after the operation. Example: say a
function findmax() is expected to return the address of bigger element in a data set- array to
the calling point.
 Demonstrates Returning by Reference
int* findmaxofarray(int[],int);
int pos;
int main()
{
int a[5]={8123,6124,9910,3,2893};
printf("biggest of the array is %d its position is %d and its address is
%u",*findmaxofarray(a,5),pos,findmaxofarray(a,5));
}
int* findmaxofarray(int x[],int n) { int i,max=0;
for(i=0;i<n;i++)
if(max<x[i])
{max=x[i]; pos=i;}
return &(x[pos]);
}
Ouput:
biggest of the array is 9910 its position is 2 and its address is 2686760
 Demonstrates Returning by Reference
double vals[] = {10.1, 12.6, 33.1, 24.1, 50.0};
double& setValues( int i ) {
return vals[i]; // return a reference to the ith element
}
int main () { cout << "Value before change" << endl;
for ( int i = 0; i < 5; i++ ) {
cout << "vals[" << i << "] = ";
cout << vals[i] << endl; }
setValues(1) = 20.23; // change 2nd element
setValues(3) = 70.8; // change 4th element
cout << "Value after change" << endl;
for ( int i = 0; i < 5; i++ ) {
cout << "vals[" << i << "] = ";
cout << vals[i] << endl; }}
Output:
Value before change vals[0] = 10.1 vals[1] = 12.6 vals[2] = 33.1 vals[3] = 24.1 vals[4] = 50
Value after change vals[0] = 10.1 vals[1] = 20.23 vals[2] = 33.1 vals[3] = 70.8 vals[4] = 50