Fatal Exception Error

A type of program error that requires that the program responsible for the error be shut down. Software applications communicate with operating systems and other applications through layers of code. An exception is an error alert that communicates the problem across the layers. When an error is detected, the exception is sent through the layers of code one by one until code is found that can handle the error. If no code has been included in any layer of the program to handle the specific error, the exception will travel through all the layers, create a fatal exception error, terminate the application and may even shut down the operating system.

For example, a program may request that the operating system reserve a block of memory for the program’s use. If the operating system is unable to honor the request – if the memory request is too large or if there is not enough available memory – it will send a memory exception to the layer that made the request. The exception will continue to travel through the layers until it is dealt with. If the program does not catch the exception, because the programmer did not write code to handle that particular exception, the exception makes its way to the top layer and the operating system recognizes it as an unhandled exception and shuts down the program, resulting in a fatal exception error. Well-designed software, however, handles all exceptions.

Webopedia Staff
Webopedia Staff
Since 1995, more than 100 tech experts and researchers have kept Webopedia’s definitions, articles, and study guides up to date. For more information on current editorial staff, please visit our About page.
Get the Free Newsletter
Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
This email address is invalid.
Get the Free Newsletter
Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
This email address is invalid.

Related Articles

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts a device's Internet access through a secure server. It is most frequently used for remote employees accessing a...

Gantt Chart

A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule and shows the dependency between tasks and the current schedule...

Input Sanitization

Input sanitization is a cybersecurity measure of checking, cleaning, and filtering data inputs from users, APIs, and web services of any unwanted characters and...

IT Asset Management Software

IT asset management software (ITAM software) is an application for organizing, recording, and tracking all of an organization s hardware and software assets throughout...

ScalaHosting

ScalaHosting is a leading managed hosting provider that offers secure, scalable, and affordable...

HRIS

Human resources information system (HRIS) solutions help businesses manage multiple facets of their...

Best Managed Service Providers...

In today's business world, managed services are more critical than ever. They can...