std::abort

Since C++11

Header: <cstdlib>

Causes abnormal program termination unless SIGABRT is being caught by a signal handler passed to std::signal and the handler does not return.

# Declarations

void abort();

(until C++11)

[[noreturn]] void abort() noexcept;

(since C++11)

# Return value

None because it does not return.

# Notes

POSIX specifies that the abort() function overrides blocking or ignoring the SIGABRT signal.

Some compiler intrinsics, e.g. __builtin_trap (gcc, clang, and icc) or __fastfail/__debugbreak (msvc), can be used to terminate the program as fast as possible.

# Example

#include <csignal>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
 
class Tester
{
public:
    Tester()  { std::cout << "Tester ctor\n"; }
    ~Tester() { std::cout << "Tester dtor\n"; }
};
 
Tester static_tester; // Destructor not called
 
void signal_handler(int signal) 
{
    if (signal == SIGABRT)
        std::cerr << "SIGABRT received\n";
    else
        std::cerr << "Unexpected signal " << signal << " received\n";
    std::_Exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
 
int main()
{
    Tester automatic_tester; // Destructor not called
 
    // Setup handler
    auto previous_handler = std::signal(SIGABRT, signal_handler);
    if (previous_handler == SIG_ERR)
    {
        std::cerr << "Setup failed\n";
        return EXIT_FAILURE;
    }
 
    std::abort(); // Raise SIGABRT
    std::cout << "This code is unreachable\n";
}

# See also