exit(2) — Linux manual page

exit(2)                    System Calls Manual                    exit(2)

NAME         top

       exit - terminate the calling thread

LIBRARY         top

       Standard C library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS         top

       #include <sys/syscall.h>  /* Definition of SYS_* constants */
       #include <unistd.h>

       [[noreturn]] long syscall(SYS_exit, int status);

DESCRIPTION         top

       exit() terminates the calling thread.

       By contrast with _exit(3), the exit() system call terminates only
       the calling thread, and actions such as reparenting child
       processes or sending SIGCHLD to the parent process are performed
       only if this is the last thread in the thread group.

RETURN VALUE         top

       exit() does not return.

STANDARDS         top

       Linux.

HISTORY         top

       Linux.

SEE ALSO         top

       exit_group(2), _exit(3), exit(3), pthread_exit(3)

COLOPHON         top

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Linux man-pages 6.19            2026-06-05                        exit(2)

Pages that refer to this page: exit_group(2),  fork(2),  syscalls(2),  exit(3),  _exit(3),  pmgetconfig(3),  pmnomem(3)

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