---
name: "_exit"
section: "2freebsd"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "12.2-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/_exit/2freebsd"
---

# \_exit(2freebsd)

terminate the calling process

## NAME

**\_exit** – terminate the calling process

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<unistd.h\>**

*void*\

**\_exit**(*int status*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **\_exit**() system call terminates a process with the following consequences:

- All of the descriptors open in the calling process are closed. This may entail delays, for example, waiting for output to drain; a process in this state may not be killed, as it is already dying.

- If the parent process of the calling process has an outstanding [wait(2)](/wait/2.md) call or catches the SIGCHLD signal, it is notified of the calling process's termination and the *status* is set as defined by [wait(2)](/wait/2.md).

- The parent process-ID of all of the calling process's existing child processes are set to the process-ID of the calling process's reaper; the reaper (normally the initialization process) inherits each of these processes (see [procctl(2)](/procctl/2.md), [init(8)](/init/8.md) and the DEFINITIONS section of [intro(2)](/intro/2.md)).

- If the termination of the process causes any process group to become orphaned (usually because the parents of all members of the group have now exited; see “orphaned process group” in [intro(2)](/intro/2.md)), and if any member of the orphaned group is stopped, the SIGHUP signal and the SIGCONT signal are sent to all members of the newly-orphaned process group.

- If the process is a controlling process (see [intro(2)](/intro/2.md)), the SIGHUP signal is sent to the foreground process group of the controlling terminal, and all current access to the controlling terminal is revoked.

Most C programs call the library routine [exit(3)](/exit/3.md), which flushes buffers, closes streams, unlinks temporary files, etc., before calling **\_exit**().

## RETURN VALUES

The **\_exit**() system call can never return.

## SEE ALSO

[fork(2)](/fork/2.md), [sigaction(2)](/sigaction/2.md), [wait(2)](/wait/2.md), [exit(3)](/exit/3.md), [init(8)](/init/8.md)

## STANDARDS

The **\_exit**() system call is expected to conform to ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990 (“POSIX.1”).

## HISTORY

The **\_exit**() function appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.