GNU Info

(libc.info)Program Termination

---

Prev: System Calls Up: Program Basics

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Program Termination
===================

   The usual way for a program to terminate is simply for its `main'
function to return.  The "exit status value" returned from the `main'
function is used to report information back to the process's parent
process or shell.

   A program can also terminate normally by calling the `exit' function.

   In addition, programs can be terminated by signals; this is
discussed in more detail in Note: Signal Handling.  The `abort'
function causes a signal that kills the program.

Normal Termination

If a program calls `exit', a

process terminates normally.

Exit Status

The `exit status' provides information

about why the process terminated.

Cleanups on Exit

A process can run its own cleanup

functions upon normal termination.

Aborting a Program

The `abort' function causes

abnormal program termination.

Termination Internals

What happens when a process terminates.