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Node.js Error Handling

Error handling patterns for Node.js applications

Node.js
Error Handling
Use in BuilderAll Node.js Options

Details

Language / Topic
nodejsNode.js
Category
Error Handling

Rules

balanced
- Use custom error classes extending `Error` with `cause` property for error chaining.
- Handle `uncaughtException` and `unhandledRejection` for graceful shutdown.
- Use `process.exitCode` instead of `process.exit()` to allow cleanup.
- Wrap async route handlers to catch and forward errors to error middleware.
- Never swallow errors with empty catch blocks — log and rethrow or handle explicitly.
- Use custom error classes extending `Error` with the `cause` property for error chaining (`new AppError('msg', { cause: originalError })`).
- Handle `uncaughtException` and `unhandledRejection` process events for graceful shutdown and logging.
- Use `process.exitCode = 1` instead of `process.exit(1)` to allow pending I/O and cleanup to complete.
- Use `AbortController` and `AbortSignal` for timeout and cancellation patterns in async operations.
- Never swallow errors with empty catch blocks — log the error and either rethrow or handle explicitly.
- Use `EventEmitter.captureRejections = true` to automatically catch async errors in event handler callbacks.