What is the role of exception handling in object-oriented programming?

Exception handling plays a crucial role in object-oriented programming by providing a systematic way to deal with unexpected scenarios that may arise during the execution of a program. Its primary purpose is to handle errors gracefully, allowing the program to continue functioning instead of crashing or producing incorrect results.

When an error occurs, such as an invalid operation or an unexpected condition, exception handling enables developers to define specific responses to these issues. By using try-catch blocks, code can attempt to execute potentially problematic operations while catching exceptions that may be thrown if those operations fail. This allows for alternative actions to be taken or appropriate error messages to be displayed, ensuring a smoother user experience.

In addition to maintaining program stability, exception handling also aids in debugging and maintenance, as it allows developers to manage errors systematically and log them for further analysis. This capability can lead to cleaner code that is easier to understand, maintain, and improve over time.

While enforcing type checking, managing program flow, and preventing incorrect user input are important aspects of programming, they do not directly address the primary concern of managing runtime errors in a controlled manner like exception handling does.