What can severe run-time errors generate in Java?

Severe run-time errors in Java generate an exception, which is a specific condition that alters the normal flow of execution in a program. When a run-time error occurs, such as attempting to divide by zero or accessing an array out of bounds, Java throws an exception to indicate that something has gone wrong.

Exceptions are part of Java’s robust error-handling mechanism, allowing developers to write code that can respond to such errors gracefully. By using try-catch blocks, programmers can handle exceptions and maintain program stability, rather than allowing the entire program to crash. This is crucial for creating reliable applications, as it provides a way to manage unexpected events during program execution.

While a program might terminate upon encountering a severe error if uncaught exceptions propagate up the call stack, many runtime errors can be caught and handled, which is a significant aspect of effective Java programming.