PEAR_Exception is the recommended error handling solution for PHP 5-based packages in PEAR. PEAR_Exception is a lightweight wrapper above the built-in Exception class in PHP 5 that provides the ability to specify causes for errors, register observers, and many more features.

Exceptions in general should be used only for exceptional circumstances - for error conditions that require termination of execution. PEAR_Exception should mainly be used for transmitting error information outside the existing package, and not for normal flow control. Use Control Structures in favor of exceptions wherever possible.