set_terminate()

You can modify the default behavior of terminate() by calling the function set_terminate(), as shown in the following example.

// declarations are in standard header <exception>
namespace std {
   typedef void (*terminate_handler)();
   terminate_handler set_terminate(terminate_handler f) throw();
   void terminate();
}

The terminate() function is called in any of the following circumstances:

• The exception handling mechanism calls a user function (including destructors for automatic objects) that exits via an uncaught exception while another exception remains uncaught.

• The exception handling mechanism cannot find a handler for a thrown exception.

• The construction or destruction of a nonlocal object with static storage duration exits using an exception.

• Execution of a function registered with atexit() exits using an exception.

• A throw expression with no operand attempts to rethrow an exception and no exception is being handled.

• The unexpected() function throws an exception that is not allowed by the previously violated exception specification, and std::bad_exception is not included in that exception specification.

• The default version of unexpected() is called.

The terminate() function calls the function passed as an argument to set_terminate(). Such a function takes no parameters, returns no value, and must terminate the program (or the current thread). The function passed in the most recent call to set_terminate() is called. The previous function passed as an argument to set_terminate() is the return value, so you can implement a stack strategy for using terminate(). The default function for terminate() calls abort() for the main thread and thr_exit() for other threads. Note that thr_exit() does not unwind the stack or call C++ destructors for automatic objects.

Selecting a terminate() replacement that returns to its caller, or that does not terminate the program or thread, is an error.