Coming from TypeScript/JavaScript

This document answers common questions from developers familiar with TypeScript/JavaScript exception handling.

Why does catch use pattern matching instead of catch (e) { ... }?

TypeScript binds one variable, then uses instanceof to discriminate:

try {
  riskyOperation()
} catch (e) {
  if (e instanceof TimeoutError) {
    retry()
  } else if (e instanceof ParseError) {
    return null
  } else {
    throw e
  }
}

BAML uses pattern matching with arrow syntax:

riskyOperation() catch {
  e: TimeoutError => retry()
  e: ParseError => null
  // Other errors implicitly propagate
}

Why not catch (e) { <pattern matching> }?

We could have kept the header binding and added pattern matching inside:

// Hypothetical: header binding + pattern matching
catch (e) {
  e: TimeoutError => retry()
  e: ParseError => null
}

But this creates redundancy: you bind e in the header, then re-bind it in each pattern arm. Which e is in scope? The outer untyped one or the inner typed one?

By removing the header binding, the design is cleaner: each pattern arm introduces its own binding with the matched type already applied.

Other benefits:

1. Untyped patterns exclude Panics: A pattern like e matches all Errors but not Panics. Bugs crash loudly by default. To catch panics explicitly: p: Panic => ....

2. Implicit re-throw: Unhandled cases propagate automatically. No else { throw e } boilerplate.

3. Arrow syntax: Consistent with match expressions. Single expressions don't need braces (e => null), multi-statement handlers use blocks.

See Design Alternatives for the full rationale.

Do I need to write try before every catch?

TypeScript requires try:

try {
  riskyOperation()
} catch (e) {
  handleError(e)
}

BAML allows catch on any expression, so try is optional:

// Catch on a function call
a() catch { e => null }

// Catch on a binary expression
a() + b() catch { e => 0 }

// Catch on a block expression
{ let x = a(); x + b() } catch { e => 0 }

// Catch on a block with explicit try (for familiarity)
try { let x = a(); x + b() } catch { e => 0 }

Since catch attaches to any expression—including block expressions—the try keyword is redundant. We allow try as a prefix for familiarity, but it adds no semantic meaning.

How do I add error handling to a function without wrapping the body?

TypeScript requires wrapping the function body:

function extract(text: string): Resume | null {
  try {
    return callLLM(text)
  } catch (e) {
    return null
  }
}

BAML attaches catch directly to the function:

function Extract(text: string) -> Resume | null {
  client "gpt-4o"
  prompt #"Extract resume from {{ text }}"#
} catch {
  e => null
}

No restructuring needed. Particularly useful for declarative LLM functions.

How do I handle errors in a loop without nesting try/catch?

TypeScript requires an inner try/catch:

for (const item of items) {
  try {
    process(item)
  } catch (e) {
    console.log(`Failed: ${item}`)
  }
}

BAML attaches catch to the loop:

for (item in items) {
  process(item)
} catch {
  e => log(`Failed: ${item}`)
}

Errors are handled per-iteration. Execution continues to the next item.

Why is catch an expression instead of a statement?

TypeScript try/catch is a statement, requiring variable hoisting or an IIFE:

// Hoisting required
let result
try {
  result = riskyOperation()
} catch (e) {
  result = null
}

// Or use an IIFE
const result2 = (() => {
  try { return riskyOperation() }
  catch (e) { return null }
})()

BAML catch is an expression—no hoisting or wrapping needed:

let result = riskyOperation() catch { e => null }

The result type is the union of the success type and handler return types.

Why doesn't my catch-all pattern catch IndexOutOfBounds?

TypeScript catches everything:

try {
  riskyOperation()
} catch (e) {
  // Catches everything, including bugs
}

BAML distinguishes errors from panics:

riskyOperation() catch {
  e => null  // Catches recoverable errors only
  // IndexOutOfBounds, AssertionError, etc. propagate
}

// To catch panics explicitly:
riskyOperation() catch {
  p: Panic => handleBug(p)
  e => null
}

Untyped patterns like e match recoverable errors but not Panic types. Bugs fail loudly by default.

Is there a finally block?

TypeScript supports finally:

let handle
try {
  handle = acquireResource()
  useResource(handle)
} catch (e) {
  logError(e)
} finally {
  if (handle) releaseResource(handle)
}

BAML handles cleanup through normal control flow:

let handle = acquireResource()
let result = {
  useResource(handle)
} catch {
  e => {
    logError(e)
    null
  }
}
releaseResource(handle)

No finally keyword. Place cleanup after the catch expression.

What types can I throw?

TypeScript allows any value but convention is Error:

throw "string error"     // Valid but discouraged
throw new Error("msg")   // Idiomatic
throw { code: 500 }      // Valid but discouraged

BAML uses an open throw system:

throw TimeoutError("operation timed out")
throw { code: 500, message: "server error" }

Any value can be thrown. No required base Error type.

Summary Table