({{, (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox])[boxes]
is a low-level box construct that represents boxes that cannot be interpreted in input or output. }})

OpenersNotesSection(Spacer1)Details

(RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox])[boxes] typically displays as the raw form of boxes together with underlining that indicates parts that cannot be interpreted.

An explicit (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) is typically generated by a failed call to (RefLink[MakeExpression, paclet:ref/MakeExpression]).

When the front end reads an invalid box structure from a (RefLink[Notebook, paclet:ref/Notebook]) or (RefLink[Cell, paclet:ref/Cell]) expression, it generates an implicit (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]), but it preserves the original structure when the expression is written out.

(RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) is displayed as a pink box. The pink box may have a tooltip or contents that help to indicate the nature of the error.

OpenersPrimaryExamplesSection(Spacer1)Examples  (7)

OpenersExampleSection0(Spacer1)Basic Examples  (2)

(RefLink[MakeExpression, paclet:ref/MakeExpression]) generates (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) structure when incomplete syntax is detected:

MakeExpression["1+",StandardForm]

Displaying the (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) shows a pink box:

RawBoxes[%]

An invalid box argument may generate an (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]):

CellPrint[Cell[BoxData[FractionBox["1","2","3"]],"Output"]]

OpenersExampleSection1(Spacer1)Scope  (3)

An implicit (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) may indicate a bad graphics expression:

Graphics[{Circle[{0,0}],Disk[1]}]

An implicit (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) in a control or (RefLink[Dynamic, paclet:ref/Dynamic]) indicates a message during evaluation:

Dynamic[1/0]

A bad option value on the right-hand side can lead to an implicit (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]):

Framed[x,FrameMargins->fish]

OpenersExampleSection2(Spacer1)Properties & Relations  (2)

An (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]) generated by the kernel typesetting can be read using (RefLink[NotebookRead, paclet:ref/NotebookRead]):

CellPrint[Cell[BoxData[MakeExpression["1+",StandardForm]],"Output",CellTags->"example1"]]

NotebookRead[Cells[CellTags->"example1"]]

Erroneous boxes display as an (RefLink[ErrorBox, paclet:ref/ErrorBox]), but (RefLink[NotebookRead, paclet:ref/NotebookRead]) mirrors the bad input:

CellPrint[Cell[BoxData[SuperscriptBox["1","2","3"]],"Output",CellTags->"example2"]]

NotebookRead[Cells[CellTags->"example2"]]

({{DocumentationFooterIconsRelatedFunction.png, ({{See Also}, {(RefLink[TagBox, paclet:ref/TagBox])  ▪  (RefLink[InterpretationBox, paclet:ref/InterpretationBox])  ▪  (RefLink[ToExpression, paclet:ref/ToExpression])}})}})

({{DocumentationFooterIconsRelatedTutorial.png, ({{Tutorials}, {▪(RefLinkPlain[Representing Textual Forms by Boxes, paclet:tutorial/RepresentingTextualFormsByBoxes])}})}})

({{DocumentationFooterIconsRelatedGuide.png, ({{Related Guides}, {▪(RefLinkPlain[Low-Level Notebook Structure, paclet:guide/LowLevelNotebookStructure])}})}})