Definition

1. Noun:
   • A software error that occurs during program execution: A "runtime error" is a type of computer program error that happens while the program is running (executing), as opposed to errors detected during compilation. It indicates a flaw in the program's logic or arithmetic that prevents normal continuation.

Usage

• The term "runtime error" is used to describe a specific class of software failures. It is typically encountered by users or developers when a program crashes or displays an error message during operation.
• It is a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The application crashed due to a runtime error in the calculation module.
  • Debugging tools help programmers identify the source of a runtime error.
  • A common runtime error is division by zero, which the program's logic failed to prevent.

Advanced Usage

• "to throw/cause a runtime error": Used to describe the action of a program generating this error.
  • The faulty input data caused the program to throw a runtime error.
• "runtime error handling": Refers to the techniques in programming designed to manage and respond to these errors gracefully.
  • Good runtime error handling can prevent a program from crashing unexpectedly.

Variants and Related Words

• Runtime (n): The period during which a program is executing. (e.g., )
• Logic error (n): A broader category of programming mistake that leads to incorrect output or behavior, often causing a runtime error.
• Exception (n): In many programming languages, a runtime error is represented and handled as an "exception."

Synonyms

• Execution error: An error that occurs during the execution phase of a program.
• Program crash/failure: A general term for when a program stops working, often due to a runtime error.

Related Phrases

• "Catch a runtime error": In programming, to use a structure to detect and manage an error when it occurs during execution.
  • The try-catch block is used to catch a runtime error and display a friendly message.
• "Unhandled runtime error": An error that occurs but is not managed by the program's code, typically causing it to terminate.
  • An unhandled runtime error caused the software to close abruptly.

Related Idioms

(Note: As a technical term, "runtime error" is not commonly used in figurative idioms. Its usage is almost exclusively in computing contexts.)

Noun

1. an error in logic or arithmetic that must be detected at run time