C++ Exception handling: exception vs. ifstream::failure

Question

In which cases do Options 1 and 2 give different results/behaviour? Are they equivalent in all respects?

I tried with a non-existing in_out/sample2.txt to force an exception and they behave the same.

int main() {
    string fnamein2 = "in_out/sample2.txt";
    ifstream ifstr;
    try {
        cout << "Reading " << fnamein2 << endl;
        ifstr.open(fnamein2);
        ifstr.exceptions( ifstream::eofbit | ifstream::failbit | ifstream::badbit );
    } catch(const exception &e) {               // <-- Option 1
    //} catch(const ifstream::failure &e) {     // <-- Option 2
        cout << "There was an error: " << e.what() << endl;
    }
    return 0;
}

Answer 1

There is no difference in your scenario. std::ifstream::failure is specialized version of std::exception (contains more details) but in your case you do not used them.

std::ifstream::failure has code method which gives you more information about an error. But if you do not need it, you can use base class.