All 7 Error Handling with TRY CATCH questions
More in Error Handling with TRY CATCH
What error information functions are available inside a CATCH block to help you understand what went wrong? How do you combine a TRY CATCH block with a transaction to ensure the database is properly rolled back if an error occurs partway through? What is the difference between using THROW and RAISERROR to raise a custom error in SQL Server? What types of errors cannot be caught by a TRY CATCH block in SQL Server? How would you build a centralized, reusable error logging procedure that captures detailed error information whenever it is called from within a CATCH block? How do nested TRY CATCH blocks work, and when would you use them in a complex stored procedure?
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SQL Server › Error Handling with TRY CATCH

How does a TRY CATCH block work in SQL Server, and why is it useful?

Beginner

Answer

A TRY CATCH block lets you run a piece of SQL code inside the TRY section, and if any error occurs during its execution, control immediately jumps to the CATCH section instead of stopping the entire batch abruptly, letting you handle the error gracefully, such as logging it or rolling back a transaction.
BEGIN TRY
  INSERT INTO Orders (OrderId, Amount) VALUES (1, 100);
END TRY
BEGIN CATCH
  PRINT 'An error occurred: ' + ERROR_MESSAGE();
END CATCH;
Real-world example An order processing script catches an error that occurs when trying to insert a duplicate order id, printing a clear message instead of letting the entire batch fail with an unhandled, confusing error.

Common follow-ups: What types of errors are not caught by a TRY CATCH block?;How do you retrieve details about the specific error that occurred inside the CATCH block?

Transactions & ACID;Stored Procedures & Functions
All 7 Error Handling with TRY CATCH questions