---
name: "abort"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/abort"
---

# abort(3)

cause abnormal process termination

## NAME

abort - cause abnormal process termination

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <stdlib.h>
```

**\[\[noreturn\]\] void abort(void);**

## DESCRIPTION

The **abort**() function first unblocks the **SIGABRT** signal, and then raises that signal for the calling process (as though [**raise**(3)](/raise/3.md) was called). This results in the abnormal termination of the process unless the **SIGABRT** signal is caught and the signal handler does not return (see [**longjmp**(3)](/longjmp/3.md)).

If the **SIGABRT** signal is ignored, or caught by a handler that returns, the **abort**() function will still terminate the process. It does this by restoring the default disposition for **SIGABRT** and then raising the signal for a second time.

As with other cases of abnormal termination the functions registered with [**atexit**(3)](/atexit/3.md) and [**on\_exit**(3)](/on_exit/3.md) are not called.

## RETURN VALUE

The **abort**() function never returns.

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **abort**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## STANDARDS

C11, POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

SVr4, POSIX.1-2001, 4.3BSD, C89.

Up until glibc 2.26, if the **abort**() function caused process termination, all open streams were closed and flushed (as with [**fclose**(3)](/fclose/3.md)). However, in some cases this could result in deadlocks and data corruption. Therefore, starting with glibc 2.27, **abort**() terminates the process without flushing streams. POSIX.1 permits either possible behavior, saying that **abort**() "may include an attempt to effect fclose() on all open streams".

## SEE ALSO

[**gdb**(1)](/gdb/1.md), [**sigaction**(2)](/sigaction/2.md), [**assert**(3)](/assert/3.md), [**exit**(3)](/exit/3.md), [**longjmp**(3)](/longjmp/3.md), [**raise**(3)](/raise/3.md)