1.4 Identifying and Correcting Errors

1. Exam Points

• Understand different types of errors:
  • Syntax error : Ex. in a = 10;
  • Run-time error : Ex. 10/0
  • Logic error : occurs when an algorithm generates a result that is not expected.
  • Overflow error: occurs when tryig to store a value out of the range of a data type.
• Identify and Correct errors (logic errors) in a code segment or procedure.

2. Knowledge Points

• (1) Error

  • An error is a condition that interrupts the normal execution of a program.
  • Types of error:
    • Syntax error : is a mistake in a program where the rules/syntax of the programming language are not followed.
    • Run-time error : is a mistake in the program that occurs during the execution of a program. Programming languages define their own runtime errors.
    • Logic error : is a mistake in the algorithm or program that causes it to behave incorrectly or unexpectedly.
    • Overflow error : is an error that occurs when a computer attempts to handle a number that is outside of the defined range of values.

• (2) Correct the error

  • The following are effective ways to find and correct errors:
    • test cases
    • hand tracing
    • visualizations
    • debuggers (breakpoint)
    • adding extra output statement(s)

3. Exercises

• Practice
• Solution