SqlException Class
The exception that is thrown when SQL Server returns a warning or error. This class cannot be inherited.
System::Exception
System::SystemException
System.Runtime.InteropServices::ExternalException
System.Data.Common::DbException
System.Data.SqlClient::SqlException
Assembly: System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
The SqlException type exposes the following members.
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() | Class | Gets the severity level of the error returned from the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server. |
![]() | Data | Gets a collection of key/value pairs that provide additional user-defined information about the exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | ErrorCode | Gets the HRESULT of the error. (Inherited from ExternalException.) |
![]() | Errors | Gets a collection of one or more SqlError objects that give detailed information about exceptions generated by the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server. |
![]() | HelpLink | Gets or sets a link to the help file associated with this exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | HResult | Gets or sets HRESULT, a coded numerical value that is assigned to a specific exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | InnerException | Gets the Exception instance that caused the current exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | LineNumber | Gets the line number within the Transact-SQL command batch or stored procedure that generated the error. |
![]() | Message | Gets a message that describes the current exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | Number | Gets a number that identifies the type of error. |
![]() | Procedure | Gets the name of the stored procedure or remote procedure call (RPC) that generated the error. |
![]() | Server | Gets the name of the computer that is running an instance of SQL Server that generated the error. |
![]() | Source | Gets the name of the provider that generated the error. (Overrides Exception::Source.) |
![]() | StackTrace | Gets a string representation of the immediate frames on the call stack. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | State | Gets a numeric error code from SQL Server that represents an error, warning or "no data found" message. For more information about how to decode these values, see SQL Server Books Online. |
![]() | TargetSite | Gets the method that throws the current exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() | Equals(Object) | Determines whether the specified Object is equal to the current Object. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() | Finalize | Allows an object to try to free resources and perform other cleanup operations before it is reclaimed by garbage collection. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() | GetBaseException | When overridden in a derived class, returns the Exception that is the root cause of one or more subsequent exceptions. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | GetHashCode | Serves as a hash function for a particular type. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() | GetObjectData | Sets the SerializationInfo with information about the exception. (Overrides Exception::GetObjectData(SerializationInfo, StreamingContext).) |
![]() | GetType | Gets the runtime type of the current instance. (Inherited from Exception.) |
![]() | MemberwiseClone | Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() | ToString | Returns a string that contains the HRESULT of the error. (Inherited from ExternalException.) |
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() | SerializeObjectState | Occurs when an exception is serialized to create an exception state object that contains serialized data about the exception. (Inherited from Exception.) |
This class is created whenever the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server encounters an error generated from the server. (Client side errors are thrown as standard common language runtime exceptions.) SqlException always contains at least one instance of SqlError.
Messages that have a severity level of 10 or less are informational and indicate problems caused by mistakes in information that a user has entered. Severity levels from 11 through 16 are generated by the user, and can be corrected by the user. Severity levels from 17 through 25 indicate software or hardware errors. When a level 17, 18, or 19 error occurs, you can continue working, although you might not be able to execute a particular statement.
The SqlConnection remains open when the severity level is 19 or less. When the severity level is 20 or greater, the server ordinarily closes the SqlConnection. However, the user can reopen the connection and continue. In both cases, a SqlException is generated by the method executing the command.
For information about the warning and informational messages sent by SQL Server, see the Troubleshooting section of SQL Server Books Online. The SqlException class maps to SQL Server severity.
The following is general information on handling exceptions. Your code should catch exceptions to prevent the application from crashing and to allow displaying a relevant error message to the user. You can use database transactions to ensure that the data is consistent regardless of what happens in the client application (including a crash). Features like System.Transaction.TransactionScope or the BeginTransaction method (in System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection, System.Data.ODBC.ODBCConnection, and System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection) ensure consistent data regardless of exceptions raised by a provider. Transactions can fail, so catch failures and retry the transaction.
The exception class of a .Net Framework data provider reports provider-specific errors. For example System.Data.Odbc has OdbcException, System.Data.OleDb has OleDbException, and System.Data.SqlClient has SqlException. For the best level of error detail, catch these exceptions and use the members of these exception classes to get details of the error.
In addition to the provider-specific errors, .NET Framework data provider types can raise .NET Framework exceptions such as System.OutOfMemoryException and System.Threading.ThreadAbortException. Recovery from these exceptions may not be possible.
Bad input can cause a .NET Framework data provider type to raise an exception such as System.ArgumentException or System.IndexOutOfRangeException. Calling a method at the wrong time can raise System.InvalidOperationException.
So, in general, write an exception handler that catches the provider specific exception as well as exceptions from the common language runtime. These can be layered as follows:
Try {
// code here
}
catch (SqlException odbcEx) {
// Handle more specific SqlException exception here.
}
catch (Exception ex) {
// Handle generic ones here.
}
Or:
Try {
// code here
}
catch (Exception ex) {
if (ex is SqlException) {
// Handle more specific SqlException exception here.
}
Else {
// Handle generic ones here.
}
}
It is also possible for a .NET Framework data provider method call to fail on a thread pool thread with no user code on the stack. In this case, and when using asynchronous method calls, you must register the UnhandledException event to handle those exceptions and avoid application crash.
Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2
The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

