Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2211 D684 Introduction to Computer Science Practice Test

An "exception" in programming refers to an event that disrupts the normal execution of a program. This occurs when an unexpected condition arises, such as invalid input, resource unavailability, or any other issue that hinders a program's operation. When an exception is raised, control can be transferred to special error-handling routines, allowing the program to manage the situation appropriately, rather than crashing or failing completely. This mechanism provides a structured way to handle errors and ensures that programs can respond gracefully to anomalies encountered during execution.

In contrast, the other options describe different programming concepts that do not relate to exceptions. For example, a function that runs indefinitely refers to an infinite loop, while syntactical errors pertain to mistakes in the code's structure that prevent it from compiling or running at all. Similarly, a loop without an exit condition describes a programming construct that continues to execute without a predetermined stopping point, which can lead to unresponsiveness but is not categorized as an exception.