C#: Equivalent of the python try/catch/else block

Question

In Python, there is this useful exception handling code:

try:
    # Code that could raise an exception
except Exception:
    # Exception handling
else:
    # Cod         


        

Answer 1

With C# version 7, you could use local functions to emulate this behaviour:

Example 1: (since C# version 7)

void Main()
{
    void checkedCode()
    {
        try 
        {
            foo();
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            recover();
            return;
        }
        // ElseCode here
    }
    checkedCode();
}

If you prefer lambda syntax, you could also declare a run method

void Run(Action r) { r(); }

which only needs to be there once in your code, and then use the pattern for anonymous methods as follows

Example 2: (older C# versions and C# version 7)

Run(() => {
    try
    {
        foo();
    }
    catch (Exception)
    {
        recover();
        return;
    }
    // ElseCode here
});

whereever you need to enclose code in a safe context.

Try it in DotNetFiddle

---

Notes:

• In both examples a function context is created so that we can use return; to exit on error.
• You can find a similar pattern like the one used in Example 2 in JavaScript: Self-invoking anonymous functions (e.g. JQuery uses them). Because in C# you cannot self-invoke, the helper method Run is used.
• Since Run does not have to be a local function, Example 2 works with older C# versions as well