To "handle" an error means you build logic into your application that responds to, or fixes, an error, generated either when an application is compiled or when a compiled application is running. When your application handles errors, something occurs as a response when the error is encountered, as opposed to no response and whatever process created the error failing silently. Used correctly, error handling helps shield your application and its users from otherwise unexpected behavior.

However, error handling is a broad category that includes responding to many kinds of errors that are thrown during compilation or at run time. This chapter focuses on how to handle run-time errors, the different types of errors that can be generated, and the advantages of the new error-handling system in ActionScript™ 3.0. This chapter also explains how to implement your own custom error-handling strategies for your applications.

Contents

• Basics of error handlingTypes of errors
• Error handling in ActionScript 3.0
• Working with the debugger versions of Flash Player and AIR
• Handling synchronous errors in an application
• Creating custom error classes
• Responding to error events and status
• Comparing the Error classes
• Example: CustomErrors application