c# - How to decide between using if/else vs try/catch?

Question

When writing code, how does one decide between using if/else or try/catch? For example, in checking for a file, should this be based on if/else (if (File.Exists)) or a try/catch block?

For example, writing to a file can be handled via an if/else block to create a file and then write to it, or a try/catch with an assumption that the file exists. What considerations are there in choosing?

Thanks

Answer 1

You should never use try/catch for flow control.

Generating an exception is an extremely expensive action. If/else is much faster and cleaner.