Error Handling
The PL/SQL makes it easy to detect and process the predefined and user-defined error conditions known as exceptions. Whenever an error occurs, an exception is raised. That is, the normal execution stops and control transfers to the exception-handling part of your PL/SQL block or subprogram. To handle the raised exceptions, you write individual routines known as exception handlers.
The Predefined exceptions are raised implicitly by the runtime system. For e.g., when you try to divide a number by zero, the PL/SQL raises the predefined exception ZERO_ DIVIDE automatically. You should raise user-defined exceptions explicitly with the help of the RAISE statement.
You can define the exceptions of your own in the declarative part of any PL/SQL block or subprogram. In the executable part, you ensure for the condition that requires special attention. If you find that the condition exists, then you can execute the RAISE statement. In the example below, you calculate the bonus earned by a salesperson. The bonus depends on the salary and commission. So, if the commission is zero or null, you raise the exception comm_missing.
DECLARE
...
comm_missing EXCEPTION; -- declare exception
BEGIN
...
IF commission IS NULL THEN
RAISE comm_missing; -- raise exception
END IF;
bonus := (salary * 0.10) + (commission * 0.15);
EXCEPTION
WHEN comm_missing THEN ... -- process exception