In the context of exception handling, what is a 'catch' block?

A 'catch' block is specifically designed to identify and handle exceptions that have been thrown during the execution of a program. When an error occurs, the catch block is executed if it corresponds to the type of exception that has been thrown. This allows developers to manage errors gracefully rather than allowing them to propagate unchecked, which could lead to program crashes or unexpected behaviors.

The catch block typically contains code that addresses the particular exception, whether by logging the error, providing feedback to the user, or performing some alternative logic to maintain program flow. This mechanism is a crucial part of structured error handling, allowing for more robust and maintainable software.

In essence, the catch block is fundamental to managing exceptions in software development, ensuring that programs can handle errors predictably without terminating unexpectedly.