Exception Best Practices
Use exceptions for exceptional conditions, not normal flow control. Be specific with exception types, log with context, and never swallow exceptions silently.
PHP
Intermediate
4 min read
Exception Best Practices
Example
<?php
// BAD: using exceptions for control flow
try {
$user = findUser($id); // throws if not found
} catch (NotFoundException $e) {
$user = createDefaultUser(); // Not exceptional — just use null return
}
// GOOD: return null for "not found", exception for actual errors
$user = findUser($id) ?? createDefaultUser();
// BAD: empty catch (silent failure)
try { doSomething(); } catch (Exception $e) {} // Bug swallower!
// GOOD: always log or rethrow
try {
doSomething();
} catch (Exception $e) {
$logger->error("Failed: " . $e->getMessage());
throw $e;
} Pro Tip
An empty catch block is one of the most dangerous things in PHP — always at minimum log the exception.