---
name: "explain_fork_or_die"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libexplain-dev"
version: "1.4.D001-16"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/explain_fork_or_die"
---

# explain\_fork\_or\_die(3)

create a child process and report errors

## NAME

explain\_fork\_or\_die - create a child process and report errors

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<libexplain/fork.h\>

void explain\_fork\_or\_die(void);

## DESCRIPTION

The **explain\_fork\_or\_die** function is used to call the [*fork*(2)](/fork/2.md) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to *stderr*, obtained from [*explain\_fork*(3)](/explain_fork/3.md), and then the process terminates by calling `exit(EXIT_FAILURE)`.

This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:

```
explain_fork_or_die();
```

- Returns:

  This function only returns on success. On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

## SEE ALSO

- [*fork*(2)](/fork/2.md)

  create a child process

- [*explain\_fork*(3)](/explain_fork/3.md)

  explain [*fork*(2)](/fork/2.md) errors

- [*exit*(2)](/exit/2.md)

  terminate the calling process

## COPYRIGHT

libexplain version 1.4\
 Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller