function-try-block

I'm wondering when programmers use function try blocks. When is it useful? void f(int i) try { if ( i < 0 ) throw "less than zero"; std::cout << "greater than zero" << std::endl; } catch(const char* e) { std::cout << e << std::endl; } int main() { f(1); f(-1); return 0; } Output: (at ideone ) greater than zero less than zero EDIT: As some people might think that the syntax of function defintion is incorrect (because the syntax doesn't look familiar), I've to say that no its not incorrect. Its called function-try-block. See §8.4/1 [dcl.fct.def] in the C++ Standard. You use it in constructors to

I came across this syntax recently for try-catch for function. struct A { int a; A (int i) : a(i) // normal syntax { try {} catch(...) {} } A () // something different try : a(0) {} catch(...) {} void foo () // normal function try {} catch(...) {} }; Both syntax are valid . Is there any technical difference between these syntax apart from coding style ? Is one of the syntax superior to other by any aspect ? The First Syntax: The scope of the try block starts after the Member Initialization list has been completed, So any exception thrown during Member Initialization will not be caught by this