Some doubt in Exception Handling

Rohan Pande 400 Reputation points
2024-03-29T11:51:46.94+00:00

I am trying to learn about the exception handling provided by Windows operating system. Now there are two different types of exception handling:

  1. One we probably know where we know that this call could fail -- we could use Structured Exception Handling which involves using of try,except, finally blocks.
  2. Other is we could register the exception handler So, I got two APIs one is AddVectoredExceptionHandler and other one is SetUnhandledExceptionFilter. I checked they are pointing both to the EXCEPTION_POINTERS structure.

For the first use case I am clear of using try blocks whenever necessary, but I am confused for the second type as there are two different APIs so when to use which one?

Windows API - Win32
Windows API - Win32
A core set of Windows application programming interfaces (APIs) for desktop and server applications. Previously known as Win32 API.
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  1. Jeanine Zhang-MSFT 9,431 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2024-04-01T03:36:20.3033333+00:00

    Hello,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

    According to the Doc:Vectored Exception Handling

    Vectored handlers are not frame-based, therefore, you can add a handler that will be called regardless of where you are in a call frame.

    According to the Doc:UnhandledExceptionFilter

    This function can be called only from within the filter expression of an exception handler.

    As far as I'm concerned, it is frame-based.

    According to the link: https://stackoverflow.com/a/54879453/11872808

    VEH handlers added by AddVectoredExceptionHandler will handle exceptions before they reach frame-based handlers.

    Filter set by SetUnhandledExceptionFilter will handle exceptions after frame-based handlers failed.

    And you could refer to the thread: Is AddVectoredExceptionHandler a replacement for SetUnhandledExceptionFilter?

    Vectored Exception Handling is useful as a diagnostic tool.

    Thank you.

    Jeanine


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