---
title: "no-process-exit"
description: "Disallow calls to `process.exit()`"
# Generated by src/codegen/lint-rule-docs.ts. Do not edit below this line.
plugin: "eslint"
aliases: ["eslint/no-process-exit"]
kind: "suggestion"
category: null
default: "off"
fixable: "no"
typeAware: false
deprecated: true
---

`process.exit()` stops the process immediately. Code further up the call stack never gets a chance to handle the problem, `finally` blocks don't run, and output that's still being written can get cut off. If a function deep in a library calls it, the whole application goes down.

Throw an error instead, and let the caller decide. To end with a failure code without stopping early, set `process.exitCode`.

ESLint has deprecated this rule. Use `n/no-process-exit` instead.

## Examples

Reported:

{/* bad */}
```js
function loadConfig(path) {
  if (!exists(path)) {
    console.error("No config file");
    process.exit(1);
  }
  return read(path);
}
```

Not reported:

{/* good */}
```js
function loadConfig(path) {
  if (!exists(path)) {
    throw new Error(`No config file at ${path}`);
  }
  return read(path);
}

main().catch(error => {
  console.error(error);
  process.exitCode = 1;
});
```

## When not to use it

A command line tool's entry file is often the right place for `process.exit()`. Turn the rule off for that file.