# Why does ElasticsearchException use RuntimeException as base class?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-elasticsearchexception-use-runtimeexception-as-base-class/51388>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [May 31, 2016, 7:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-elasticsearchexception-use-runtimeexception-as-base-class/51388 "2016-05-31T07:25:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![oldsong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@oldsong](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/oldsong)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2016, 7:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-elasticsearchexception-use-runtimeexception-as-base-class/51388/1 "2016-05-31T07:25:31Z")

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Since all ElasticsearchException use RuntimeException as base class, they are unchecked. We have to figure out the type of the exceptions a method will throw by experimenting or by looking into the source code and both are time-consuming.

Is there any reason I missed for this design?

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-elasticsearchexception-use-runtimeexception-as-base-class/51388/2 "2017-07-05T22:47:49Z")

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Closed on July 5, 2017, 10:47pm UTC