C# Performance on Errors

Question

It would appear that catching an error is slower that performing a check prior to the error (for example a TryParse). The related questions that prompt this observation are here and here.

Can anyone tell me why this is so - why is it more costly to catch an error that to perform one or many checks of the data to prevent the error?

Answer 1

Basically, it's the unwinding of the stack that's most expensive. Here's a great link: Why are try blocks expensive?