TimeoutException

TimeoutException is a common programming term for an exception that signals an operation did not complete within a prescribed time limit. The exact behavior and inheritance vary by language and framework, but the underlying idea is to stop waiting for a result after the allotted duration and to inform the caller that the operation timed out.

In Java, TimeoutException is defined in the java.util.concurrent package. It is a checked exception that can be thrown, for example, by Future.get(long timeout, TimeUnit unit) when the computation has not finished within the specified interval. Timeout-related methods enable applications to avoid indefinite blocking and to handle latency in a controlled manner.

In .NET, a similar construct is System.TimeoutException. This exception can be raised by various APIs when a wait or an asynchronous operation, such as waiting on a Task or performing a network request, does not complete within the allotted time. The exact timeout value and behavior depend on the API and context.

Common causes of timeouts include network latency, slow input/output operations, resource contention, or deadlocks that prevent progress within the time limit. In asynchronous programming, timeouts are often implemented alongside cancellation mechanisms, allowing resources to be released promptly when a timeout occurs.

Handling strategies typically involve catching or propagating the timeout, configuring sensible timeouts, and providing fallback or retry plans with backoff. It is important to distinguish timeouts from deadlines: a deadline is a fixed point in time, while a timeout is a duration after which progress is deemed unacceptable.