Go Error Handling Patterns and Best Practices

Error Handling
2026-04-17T12:05:42+00:00
Go uses explicit error returns requiring immediate checks with if err != nil to handle failures without exceptions.

Go handles errors by returning them as explicit values rather than using exceptions, requiring you to check every error immediately. This pattern forces developers to acknowledge potential failures at the call site, making error handling a visible part of the control flow. Use the if err != nil idiom to check for errors and handle them by logging, returning, or wrapping them with context.

func readFile(path string) error {
    f, err := os.Open(path)
    if err != nil {
        return fmt.Errorf("failed to open %s: %w", path, err)
    }
    defer f.Close()
    // Process file
    return nil
}