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.NET Development
.NET Framework 3.5
System Namespace
Exception Class
 StackTrace Property
This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
Exception..::.StackTrace Property

Updated: November 2007

Gets a string representation of the frames on the call stack at the time the current exception was thrown.

Namespace:  System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Visual Basic (Declaration)
Public Overridable ReadOnly Property StackTrace As String
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As Exception
Dim value As String

value = instance.StackTrace
C#
public virtual string StackTrace { get; }
Visual C++
public:
virtual property String^ StackTrace {
    String^ get ();
}
J#
/** @property */
public String get_StackTrace()
JScript
public function get StackTrace () : String

Property Value

Type: System..::.String

A string that describes the contents of the call stack, with the most recent method call appearing first.

Implements

_Exception..::.StackTrace

The execution stack keeps track of all the methods that are in execution at a given instant. A trace of the method calls is called a stack trace. The stack trace listing provides a means to follow the call sequence to the line number in the method where the exception occurs.

StackTrace may not report as many method calls as expected, due to code transformations, such as inlining, that occur during optimization.

Notes to Inheritors:

The StackTrace property is overridden in classes that require control over the stack trace content or format.

By default, the stack trace is captured immediately before an exception object is thrown. Use Environment..::.StackTrace to get stack trace information when no exception is being thrown.

The following code example throws an Exception and then catches it and displays a stack trace using the StackTrace property.

Visual Basic
' Example for the Exception.HelpLink, Exception.Source,
' Exception.StackTrace, and Exception.TargetSite properties.
Imports System
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic

Namespace NDP_UE_VB

    ' Derive an exception; the constructor sets the HelpLink and 
    ' Source properties.
    Class LogTableOverflowException
        Inherits Exception

        Private Const overflowMessage As String = _
            "The log table has overflowed."

        Public Sub New( auxMessage As String, inner As Exception )
            MyBase.New( String.Format( "{0} - {1}", _
                overflowMessage, auxMessage ), inner )

            Me.HelpLink = "http://msdn.microsoft.com"
            Me.Source = "Exception_Class_Samples"

        End Sub ' New
    End Class ' LogTableOverflowException

    Class LogTable

        Public Sub New(numElements As Integer)
            logArea = New String(numElements) {}
            elemInUse = 0
        End Sub ' New

        Protected logArea() As String
        Protected elemInUse As Integer

        ' The AddRecord method throws a derived exception if 
        ' the array bounds exception is caught.
        Public Function AddRecord( newRecord As String ) As Integer

            Try
                Dim curElement as Integer = elemInUse
                logArea( elemInUse ) = newRecord
                elemInUse += 1
                Return curElement

            Catch ex As Exception
                Throw New LogTableOverflowException( _
                    String.Format( "Record ""{0}"" was not logged.", _
                        newRecord ), ex )
            End Try
        End Function ' AddRecord
    End Class ' LogTable

    Module OverflowDemo

        ' Create a log table and force an overflow.
        Sub Main( )
            Dim log As New LogTable( 4 )

            Console.WriteLine( "This example of " & vbCrLf & _
                "   Exception.Message, " & vbCrLf & _
                "   Exception.HelpLink, " & vbCrLf & _
                "   Exception.Source, " & vbCrLf & _
                "   Exception.StackTrace, and " & vbCrLf & _
                "   Exception.TargetSite " & vbCrLf & _
                "generates the following output." )

            Try
                Dim count As Integer = 0

                Do
                    log.AddRecord( _
                        String.Format( "Log record number {0}", count ) )
                    count += 1
                Loop

            Catch ex As Exception
                Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & _
                    "Message ---" & vbCrLf & ex.Message )
                Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & _
                    "HelpLink ---" & vbCrLf & ex.HelpLink )
                Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & _
                    "Source ---" & vbCrLf & ex.Source )
                Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & _
                    "StackTrace ---" & vbCrLf & ex.StackTrace )
                Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & "TargetSite ---" & _
                    vbCrLf & ex.TargetSite.ToString( ) )
            End Try
        End Sub ' Main

    End Module ' OverflowDemo
End Namespace ' NDP_UE_VB

' This example of
'    Exception.Message,
'    Exception.HelpLink,
'    Exception.Source,
'    Exception.StackTrace, and
'    Exception.TargetSite
' generates the following output.
' 
' Message ---
' The log table has overflowed. - Record "Log record number 5" was not logged.
' 
' HelpLink ---
' http://msdn.microsoft.com
' 
' Source ---
' Exception_Class_Samples
' 
' StackTrace ---
'    at NDP_UE_VB.LogTable.AddRecord(String newRecord)
'    at NDP_UE_VB.OverflowDemo.Main()
' 
' TargetSite ---
' Int32 AddRecord(System.String)

C#
// Example for the Exception.HelpLink, Exception.Source,
// Exception.StackTrace, and Exception.TargetSite properties.
using System;

namespace NDP_UE_CS
{
    // Derive an exception; the constructor sets the HelpLink and 
    // Source properties.
    class LogTableOverflowException : Exception
    {
        const string overflowMessage = "The log table has overflowed.";

        public LogTableOverflowException( 
            string auxMessage, Exception inner ) :
                base( String.Format( "{0} - {1}", 
                    overflowMessage, auxMessage ), inner )
        {
            this.HelpLink = "http://msdn.microsoft.com";
            this.Source = "Exception_Class_Samples";
        }
    }

    class LogTable
    {
        public LogTable( int numElements )
        {
            logArea = new string[ numElements ];
            elemInUse = 0;
        }

        protected string[ ] logArea;
        protected int       elemInUse;

        // The AddRecord method throws a derived exception if 
        // the array bounds exception is caught.
        public    int       AddRecord( string newRecord )
        {
            try
            {
                logArea[ elemInUse ] = newRecord;
                return elemInUse++;
            }
            catch( Exception e )
            {
                throw new LogTableOverflowException( 
                    String.Format( "Record \"{0}\" was not logged.", 
                        newRecord ), e );
            }
        }
    }

    class OverflowDemo 
    {
        // Create a log table and force an overflow.
        public static void Main() 
        {
            LogTable log = new LogTable( 4 );

            Console.WriteLine( 
                "This example of \n   Exception.Message, \n" +
                "   Exception.HelpLink, \n   Exception.Source, \n" +
                "   Exception.StackTrace, and \n   Exception." +
                "TargetSite \ngenerates the following output." );

            try
            {
                for( int count = 1; ; count++ )
                {
                    log.AddRecord( 
                        String.Format( 
                            "Log record number {0}", count ) );
                }
            }
            catch( Exception ex )
            {
                Console.WriteLine( "\nMessage ---\n{0}", ex.Message );
                Console.WriteLine( 
                    "\nHelpLink ---\n{0}", ex.HelpLink );
                Console.WriteLine( "\nSource ---\n{0}", ex.Source );
                Console.WriteLine( 
                    "\nStackTrace ---\n{0}", ex.StackTrace );
                Console.WriteLine( 
                    "\nTargetSite ---\n{0}", ex.TargetSite );
            }
        }
    }
}

/*
This example of
   Exception.Message,
   Exception.HelpLink,
   Exception.Source,
   Exception.StackTrace, and
   Exception.TargetSite
generates the following output.

Message ---
The log table has overflowed. - Record "Log record number 5" was not logged.

HelpLink ---
http://msdn.microsoft.com

Source ---
Exception_Class_Samples

StackTrace ---
   at NDP_UE_CS.LogTable.AddRecord(String newRecord)
   at NDP_UE_CS.OverflowDemo.Main()

TargetSite ---
Int32 AddRecord(System.String)
*/

Visual C++
// Example for the Exception::HelpLink, Exception::Source,
// Exception::StackTrace, and Exception::TargetSite properties.
using namespace System;

namespace NDP_UE_CPP
{

   // Derive an exception; the constructor sets the HelpLink and 
   // Source properties.
   public ref class LogTableOverflowException: public Exception
   {
   private:
      static String^ overflowMessage = "The log table has overflowed.";

   public:
      LogTableOverflowException( String^ auxMessage, Exception^ inner )
         : Exception( String::Format( "{0} - {1}", overflowMessage, auxMessage ), inner )
      {
         this->HelpLink = "http://msdn.microsoft.com";
         this->Source = "Exception_Class_Samples";
      }

   };

   public ref class LogTable
   {
   public:
      LogTable( int numElements )
      {
         logArea = gcnew array<String^>(numElements);
         elemInUse = 0;
      }


   protected:
      array<String^>^logArea;
      int elemInUse;

   public:

      // The AddRecord method throws a derived exception if 
      // the array bounds exception is caught.
      int AddRecord( String^ newRecord )
      {
         try
         {
            logArea[ elemInUse ] = newRecord;
            return elemInUse++;
         }
         catch ( Exception^ ex ) 
         {
            throw gcnew LogTableOverflowException( String::Format( "Record \"{0}\" was not logged.", newRecord ),ex );
         }

      }

   };


   // Create a log table and force an overflow.
   void ForceOverflow()
   {
      LogTable^ log = gcnew LogTable( 4 );
      try
      {
         for ( int count = 1; ; count++ )
         {
            log->AddRecord( String::Format( "Log record number {0}", count ) );

         }
      }
      catch ( Exception^ ex ) 
      {
         Console::WriteLine( "\nMessage ---\n{0}", ex->Message );
         Console::WriteLine( "\nHelpLink ---\n{0}", ex->HelpLink );
         Console::WriteLine( "\nSource ---\n{0}", ex->Source );
         Console::WriteLine( "\nStackTrace ---\n{0}", ex->StackTrace );
         Console::WriteLine( "\nTargetSite ---\n{0}", ex->TargetSite->ToString() );
      }

   }

}

int main()
{
   Console::WriteLine( "This example of \n   Exception::Message, \n"
   "   Exception::HelpLink, \n   Exception::Source, \n"
   "   Exception::StackTrace, and \n   Exception::"
   "TargetSite \ngenerates the following output." );
   NDP_UE_CPP::ForceOverflow();
}

/*
This example of
   Exception::Message,
   Exception::HelpLink,
   Exception::Source,
   Exception::StackTrace, and
   Exception::TargetSite
generates the following output.

Message ---
The log table has overflowed. - Record "Log record number 5" was not logged.

HelpLink ---
http://msdn.microsoft.com

Source ---
Exception_Class_Samples

StackTrace ---
   at NDP_UE_CPP.LogTable.AddRecord(String newRecord)
   at NDP_UE_CPP.ForceOverflow()

TargetSite ---
Int32 AddRecord(System.String)
*/

J#
// Example for the Exception.HelpLink, Exception.Source,
// Exception.StackTrace, and Exception.TargetSite properties.
package NDP_UE_JSL; 

import System.* ;

// Derive an exception; the constructor sets the HelpLink and 
// Source properties.
class LogTableOverflowException extends System.Exception
{
    private String overflowMessage = "The log table has overflowed.";

    public LogTableOverflowException(System.String auxMessage, 
        System.Exception inner)
    {
        super(String.Format("The log table has overflowed. - {0}", 
            auxMessage), inner);
        this.set_HelpLink("http://msdn.microsoft.com");
        this.set_Source("Exception_Class_Samples");
    } //LogTableOverflowException
} //LogTableOverflowException

class LogTable
{
    public LogTable(int numElements)
    {
        logArea = new String[numElements];
        elemInUse = 0;
    } //LogTable

    protected String logArea[];
    protected int elemInUse;

    // The AddRecord method throws a derived exception if 
    // the array bounds exception is caught.
    public int AddRecord(String newRecord) throws LogTableOverflowException
    {
        try {
            logArea.set_Item(elemInUse, newRecord);
            return elemInUse++;
        }
        catch (System.Exception e) {
            throw new LogTableOverflowException(
                String.Format("Record \"{0}\" was not logged.", newRecord), e);
        }
    } //AddRecord
} //LogTable

class OverflowDemo
{
    // Create a log table and force an overflow.
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        LogTable log = new LogTable(4);

        Console.WriteLine(("This example of \n   Exception.Message, \n" 
            + "   Exception.HelpLink, \n   Exception.Source, \n" 
            + "   Exception.StackTrace, and \n   Exception." 
            + "TargetSite \ngenerates the following output."));

        try {
            for (int count = 1; ; count++) {
                log.AddRecord(String.Format("Log record number {0}", 
                    System.Convert.ToString(count)));
            }
        }
        catch (System.Exception ex) {
            Console.WriteLine("\nMessage ---\n{0}", ex.get_Message());
            Console.WriteLine("\nHelpLink ---\n{0}", ex.get_HelpLink());
            Console.WriteLine("\nSource ---\n{0}", ex.get_Source());
            Console.WriteLine("\nStackTrace ---\n{0}", ex.get_StackTrace());
            Console.WriteLine("\nTargetSite ---\n{0}", ex.get_TargetSite());
        }
    } //main
} //OverflowDemo

/*
   Exception.Message,
   Exception.HelpLink,
   Exception.Source,
   Exception.StackTrace, and
   Exception.TargetSite
generates the following output.

Message ---
The log table has overflowed. - Record "Log record number 5" was not logged.

HelpLink ---
http://msdn.microsoft.com

Source ---
Exception_Class_Samples

StackTrace ---
   at NDP_UE_JSL.LogTable.AddRecord(String newRecord) in D:\Test\ConsoleApplicat
ion7\ConsoleApplication7\Class1.jsl:line 45
   at NDP_UE_JSL.OverflowDemo.main(String[] args) in D:\Test\ConsoleApplication7
\ConsoleApplication7\Class1.jsl:line 62

TargetSite ---
Int32 AddRecord(System.String)
 */

Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.0
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