What happens during a runtime error?

During a runtime error, the program is able to compile, which means that the initial code is syntactically correct, but as it runs, it encounters an error that causes it to stop executing before completion. This type of error typically occurs when the program is executing faulty logic, incorrect data types, or when resource-related errors happen, such as division by zero or attempting to access an out-of-bounds index in an array.

This differentiates runtime errors from compile-time errors, where the program wouldn’t compile at all, or logical errors, where the program might run but produce unexpected results. The key characteristic of a runtime error is that it reveals issues during the execution phase of the program, leading to an abrupt halt.