Exception Classes

The .NET Framework's model for structured exception handling centers on a class named Exception that is defined in the System namespace. The Exception class is particularly important because of one specific rule that is imposed by the Common Language Specification (CLS): Every exception object must be created from either the Exception class or a class that inherits from Exception. As a consequence, every CLS-compliant exception object shares a programming contract and an underlying implementation that is defined by the Exception class.

Why did the architects of the .NET Framework choose to employ an inheritance-based model for structured exception handling? The use of inheritance makes it possible to create different types of ...

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