# <small>nlohmann::basic_json::</small>exception

```cpp
class exception : public std::exception;
```

This class is an extension of [`std::exception`](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/error/exception) objects with a
member `id` for exception ids. It is used as the base class for all exceptions thrown by the `basic_json` class. This
class can hence be used as "wildcard" to catch exceptions, see example below.

```mermaid
classDiagram
  direction LR
  
    class std_exception ["std::exception"] {
        <<interface>>
    }

    class json_exception ["basic_json::exception"] {
        +const int id
        +const char* what() const
    }
    
    class json_parse_error ["basic_json::parse_error"] {
        +const std::size_t byte
    }

    class json_invalid_iterator ["basic_json::invalid_iterator"]
    class json_type_error ["basic_json::type_error"]
    class json_out_of_range ["basic_json::out_of_range"]
    class json_other_error ["basic_json::other_error"]

    std_exception <|-- json_exception
    json_exception <|-- json_parse_error
    json_exception <|-- json_invalid_iterator
    json_exception <|-- json_type_error
    json_exception <|-- json_out_of_range
    json_exception <|-- json_other_error

    style json_exception fill:#CCCCFF
```

<p class="nj-caption" markdown>Class hierarchy of the library's exceptions; arrows point from a derived class to its
base class, and the highlighted box is `basic_json::exception`.</p>

Subclasses:

- [`parse_error`](parse_error.md) for exceptions indicating a parse error
- [`invalid_iterator`](invalid_iterator.md) for exceptions indicating errors with iterators
- [`type_error`](type_error.md) for exceptions indicating executing a member function with a wrong type
- [`out_of_range`](out_of_range.md) for exceptions indicating access out of the defined range
- [`other_error`](other_error.md) for exceptions indicating other library errors

## Member functions

- **what** - returns explanatory string

## Member variables

- **id** - the id of the exception

## Notes

To have nothrow-copy-constructible exceptions, we internally use `std::runtime_error` which can cope with
arbitrary-length error messages. Intermediate strings are built with static functions and then passed to the actual
constructor.

## Examples

??? example

    The following code shows how arbitrary library exceptions can be caught.
    
    ```cpp
    --8<-- "examples/exception.cpp"
    ```
    
    Output:
    
    ```json
    --8<-- "examples/exception.output"
    ```

## See also

- [List of exceptions](../../home/exceptions.md) - overview of all exceptions thrown by the library
- [Working Without Exceptions](../../features/no_exceptions.md) - using the library without exceptions
- [`JSON_DIAGNOSTICS`](../macros/json_diagnostics.md) - extended exception messages with the path of the failing value
- [Parsing and Exceptions](../../features/parsing/parse_exceptions.md) - parsing alternatives that do not throw
- [Debugging](../../home/debugging.md) - debugging aids

## Version history

- Added in version 3.0.0.