std::rethrow_if_nested

Header: <exception>

If E is not a polymorphic class type, or if std::nested_exception is an inaccessible or ambiguous base class of E, there is no effect.

# Declarations

template< class E >
void rethrow_if_nested( const E& e );

(since C++11) (constexpr since C++26)

# Parameters

# Notes

Unlike many related functions, this function is not intended to be called with a std::exception_ptr but rather an actual exception reference.

# Example

#include <exception>
#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <string>
 
// prints the explanatory string of an exception. If the exception is nested,
// recurses to print the explanatory string of the exception it holds
void print_exception(const std::exception& e, int level =  0)
{
    std::cerr << std::string(level, ' ') << "exception: " << e.what() << '\n';
    try
    {
        std::rethrow_if_nested(e);
    }
    catch (const std::exception& nestedException)
    {
        print_exception(nestedException, level + 1);
    }
    catch (...) {}
}
 
// sample function that catches an exception and wraps it in a nested exception
void open_file(const std::string& s)
{
    try
    {
        std::ifstream file(s);
        file.exceptions(std::ios_base::failbit);
    }
    catch (...)
    {
        std::throw_with_nested(std::runtime_error("Couldn't open " + s));
    }
}
 
// sample function that catches an exception and wraps it in a nested exception
void run()
{
    try
    {
        open_file("nonexistent.file");
    }
    catch (...)
    {
        std::throw_with_nested(std::runtime_error("run() failed"));
    }
}
 
// runs the sample function above and prints the caught exception
int main()
{
    try
    {
        run();
    }
    catch (const std::exception& e)
    {
        print_exception(e);
    }
}

# See also