To define custom exceptions, just extend the Exception base class.

<?php
class TooLittleException extends Exception {
    private $num;

    function TooLittleException($num) {
        parent::exception();
        $this->num = $num;
    }

    function getMessage() {
        return $this->num . " is too small!";
    }
}


define('NUM', 10);
try {
    if (NUM < 20) {
        throw new TooLittleException(NUM);
    }
} catch (TooLittleException $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage();
    echo "\n<br />\nIn file: ";
    echo $e->getFile();
    echo "\n<br />\n";
}
?>
Output