Error handling is a programming practice that involves anticipating and managing errors that may occur during the execution of a program. It ensures that the program can respond gracefully to unexpected situations, such as invalid user input or system failures, rather than crashing or producing incorrect results. By implementing error handling, developers can improve the reliability and user experience of their applications. Common techniques for error handling include using try-catch blocks, which allow programmers to attempt a block of code and catch any exceptions that arise. Other methods include validating input data and logging errors for further analysis. Effective error handling helps maintain the stability of software and aids in troubleshooting issues.