C# Catching Exceptions Guideline (updated for C# 6.0)
The article proposes and summarizes guidelines for exception handling / catching exceptions. AVOID catching exceptions that you’re unable to handle fully. AVOID hiding (discarding) exceptions you don’t fully handle. DO use throw to rethrow an exception; rather than throw inside a catch block. DO set the wrapping exception’s InnerException property with the caught exception unless doing so exposes private data. CONSIDER an exception condition in favor of having to rethrow an exception after capturing one you can’t handle. AVOID throwing exceptions from exception conditional expression. DO use caution when rethrowing different exceptions. Rarely use System.Exception and general catch blocks—except to log the exception before shutting down the application. AVOID exception reporting or logging lower in the call stack. Sources: Essential .NET - C# Exception Handling, by Mark Michaelis, November 2015 Review of the details of each of the guidelines