NAME

abort - generate an abnormal process abort

SYNOPSIS

#include <stdlib.h>

void abort(void);


DESCRIPTION

^[CX] The functionality described on this reference page is aligned with the ISO C standard. Any conflict between the requirements described here and the ISO C standard is unintentional. This volume of POSIX.1-2008 defers to the ISO C standard.

The abort() function shall cause abnormal process termination to occur, unless the signal SIGABRT is being caught and the signal handler does not return.

^[CX] The abnormal termination processing shall include the default actions defined for SIGABRT and may include an attempt to effect fclose() on all open streams.

The SIGABRT signal shall be sent to the calling process as if by means of raise() with the argument SIGABRT.

^[CX] The status made available to wait(), waitid(), or waitpid() by abort() shall be that of a process terminated by the SIGABRT signal. The abort() function shall override blocking or ignoring the SIGABRT signal.

RETURN VALUE

The abort() function shall not return.

ERRORS

No errors are defined.

EXAMPLES

None.

APPLICATION USAGE

Catching the signal is intended to provide the application developer with a portable means to abort processing, free from possible interference from any implementation-supplied functions.

RATIONALE

The ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard requires the abort() function to be async-signal-safe. Since POSIX.1-2008 defers to the ISO C standard, this required a change to the DESCRIPTION from ``shall include the effect of fclose()'' to ``may include an attempt to effect fclose().''

The revised wording permits some backwards-compatibility and avoids a potential deadlock situation.

The Open Group Base Resolution bwg2002-003 is applied, removing the following XSI shaded paragraph from the DESCRIPTION:

``On XSI-conformant systems, in addition the abnormal termination processing shall include the effect of fclose() on message catalog descriptors.''

There were several reasons to remove this paragraph:

• No special processing of open message catalogs needs to be performed prior to abnormal process termination.

• The main reason to specifically mention that abort() includes the effect of fclose() on open streams is to flush output queued on the stream. Message catalogs in this context are read-only and, therefore, do not need to be flushed.

• The effect of fclose() on a message catalog descriptor is unspecified. Message catalog descriptors are allowed, but not required to be implemented using a file descriptor, but there is no mention in POSIX.1-2008 of a message catalog descriptor using a standard I/O stream FILE object as would be expected by fclose().

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

None.

SEE ALSO

exit, kill, raise, signal, wait, waitid

XBD <stdlib.h>

CHANGE HISTORY

First released in Issue 1. Derived from Issue 1 of the SVID.

Issue 6

Extensions beyond the ISO C standard are marked.

Changes are made to the DESCRIPTION for alignment with the ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard.

The Open Group Base Resolution bwg2002-003 is applied.

IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 1-2002, item XSH/TC1/D6/10 is applied, changing the DESCRIPTION of abnormal termination processing and adding to the RATIONALE section.

IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 2-2004, item XSH/TC2/D6/9 is applied, changing ``implementation-defined functions'' to ``implementation-supplied functions'' in the APPLICATION USAGE section.