Question

What is a runtime error?

Short answer

Answer: A runtime error is an error that occurs during the execution of a program or software, as opposed to compile-time errors that are detected during code compilation. Some common examples of runtime errors include division by zero, accessing an array element outside of its bounds, and null pointer dereference. To prevent runtime errors, proper error handling and validation should be implemented within the code.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Runtime Error

A runtime error is an error that occurs during the execution of a program or software. Unlike compile-time errors that are detected during the compilation of the code, runtime errors are detected when the program is running.

Causes of Runtime Errors

There are many potential causes for runtime errors, some of which are: 1. Division by zero 2. Invalid data type conversions 3. Accessing an array element outside of its bounds 4. Null pointer dereference 5. Memory leak or overflow

Examples of Runtime Errors

Here are some examples of common runtime errors: 1. Division by zero: This error occurs when you try to divide a value by zero, which is not allowed in programming languages. Example: ``` int a = 5; int b = 0; int result = a / b; // Runtime error - division by zero ``` 2. Index out of bounds: This error occurs when you attempt to access an array element that is outside the bounds of the array. Example: ``` int[] numbers = new int[5]; numbers[6] = 10; // Runtime error - index out of bounds ``` 3. Null pointer dereference: This error occurs when you try to access an object or a variable, which is not yet assigned a value or has been assigned a null value. Example: ``` String exampleString = null; int stringLength = exampleString.length(); // Runtime error - null pointer dereference ``` In conclusion, a runtime error is an error that occurs during the execution of a program or software and often results from invalid operations, data, or memory access. Proper error handling and validation can help reduce the occurrence of these errors.