run-time error

programming An error in the execution of a program which

occurs at run time, as opposed to a compile-time error.

A good programming language should, among other things, aim to

replace run-time errors by compile-time errors. Language

features such as strong typing help.

A good program should attempt to avoid run-time errors by, for

example, checking that their input data is sensible. Where

this is not possible, the program should attempt to detect the

error and handle it gracefully rather than just exiting via

the language or operating system's default handler. Here

again, a good language will make this easy to do (or at least

possible).

See also abort, core dump, GPF.

(1997-01-13)