Error Classification

There is a fundamental difference between being unable to read a file, failing to connect to a database, and receiving invalid data, as each points to a different system, owner, and class of fix. There are three fundamental categories of errors in programming: syntax errors, runtime errors, and logical errors. Logical errors cause the code to run without crashing but produce incorrect results because the underlying logic is flawed. Only one of the three common database error categories — invalid data — belongs to a developer; the other two should go directly to DevOps or a DBA. Database errors fall into three distinct categories: inability to connect to the server (network/infrastructure), missing table or schema (database configuration), and invalid or unvalidated data (code bug or missing validation). Runtime errors only manifest during execution and are often caused by external conditions such as missing resources or invalid input that could have been anticipated. Syntax errors are mistakes in the structure or grammar of code that cause it to not run at all.