---
name: "pthread_exit"
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/pthread_exit"
---

# pthread\_exit(3)

terminate calling thread

## NAME

pthread\_exit - terminate calling thread

## LIBRARY

POSIX threads library (*libpthread*, *-lpthread*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <pthread.h>
```

**\[\[noreturn\]\] void pthread\_exit(void \****retval***);**

## DESCRIPTION

The **pthread\_exit**() function terminates the calling thread and returns a value via *retval* that (if the thread is joinable) is available to another thread in the same process that calls [**pthread\_join**(3)](/pthread_join/3.md).

Any clean-up handlers established by [**pthread\_cleanup\_push**(3)](/pthread_cleanup_push/3.md) that have not yet been popped, are popped (in the reverse of the order in which they were pushed) and executed. If the thread has any thread-specific data, then, after the clean-up handlers have been executed, the corresponding destructor functions are called, in an unspecified order.

When a thread terminates, process-shared resources (e.g., mutexes, condition variables, semaphores, and file descriptors) are not released, and functions registered using [**atexit**(3)](/atexit/3.md) are not called.

After the last thread in a process terminates, the process terminates as by calling [**exit**(3)](/exit/3.md) with an exit status of zero; thus, process-shared resources are released and functions registered using [**atexit**(3)](/atexit/3.md) are called.

## RETURN VALUE

This function does not return to the caller.

## ERRORS

This function always succeeds.

## ATTRIBUTES

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

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **pthread\_exit**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## STANDARDS

POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

POSIX.1-2001.

## NOTES

Performing a return from the start function of any thread other than the main thread results in an implicit call to **pthread\_exit**(), using the function's return value as the thread's exit status.

To allow other threads to continue execution, the main thread should terminate by calling **pthread\_exit**() rather than [**exit**(3)](/exit/3.md).

The value pointed to by *retval* should not be located on the calling thread's stack, since the contents of that stack are undefined after the thread terminates.

## BUGS

Currently, there are limitations in the kernel implementation logic for [**wait**(2)](/wait/2.md)ing on a stopped thread group with a dead thread group leader. This can manifest in problems such as a locked terminal if a stop signal is sent to a foreground process whose thread group leader has already called **pthread\_exit**().

## SEE ALSO

[**pthread\_create**(3)](/pthread_create/3.md), [**pthread\_join**(3)](/pthread_join/3.md), [**pthreads**(7)](/pthreads/7.md)