Global Error Handling

Handle errors globally

IntermediateTopic: Error Handling
Back

JavaScript Global Error Handling Program

This program helps you to learn the fundamental structure and syntax of JavaScript programming.

Try This Code
// Method 1: Window error handler
window.addEventListener('error', function(event) {
    console.error('Global error:', event.message);
    console.error('File:', event.filename);
    console.error('Line:', event.lineno);
    console.error('Column:', event.colno);
    console.error('Error:', event.error);
    
    // Send to error tracking service
    // logErrorToService(event);
    
    // Prevent default browser error handling
    // return true;
});

// Method 2: Unhandled promise rejection
window.addEventListener('unhandledrejection', function(event) {
    console.error('Unhandled promise rejection:', event.reason);
    event.preventDefault(); // Prevent default handling
});

// Method 3: Node.js error handling
if (typeof process !== 'undefined') {
    process.on('uncaughtException', (error) => {
        console.error('Uncaught exception:', error);
        // Graceful shutdown
        process.exit(1);
    });
    
    process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason, promise) => {
        console.error('Unhandled rejection:', reason);
    });
}

// Method 4: Error boundary (React-like)
class ErrorBoundary {
    constructor() {
        this.errors = [];
    }
    
    catchError(error, errorInfo) {
        this.errors.push({ error, errorInfo, timestamp: Date.now() });
        console.error('Error caught:', error, errorInfo);
    }
    
    getErrors() {
        return this.errors;
    }
}

const errorBoundary = new ErrorBoundary();

// Method 5: Error logging service
class ErrorLogger {
    constructor() {
        this.errors = [];
    }
    
    log(error, context = {}) {
        const errorEntry = {
            message: error.message,
            stack: error.stack,
            context: context,
            timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
            userAgent: navigator.userAgent,
            url: window.location.href
        };
        
        this.errors.push(errorEntry);
        // Send to server
        this.sendToServer(errorEntry);
    }
    
    sendToServer(errorEntry) {
        // fetch('/api/errors', { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(errorEntry) });
        console.log('Error logged:', errorEntry);
    }
}

const errorLogger = new ErrorLogger();

// Method 6: Error reporting
function reportError(error, context) {
    errorLogger.log(error, context);
}

// Wrap functions with error reporting
function withErrorReporting(fn) {
    return function(...args) {
        try {
            return fn.apply(this, args);
        } catch (error) {
            reportError(error, { function: fn.name, args });
            throw error;
        }
    };
}
Output
Global error: ReferenceError: x is not defined
File: script.js
Line: 10
Column: 5
Error: ReferenceError: x is not defined
Unhandled promise rejection: Error: Promise rejected
Error caught: Error Error info
Error logged: { message: "...", stack: "...", context: {...}, timestamp: "...", userAgent: "...", url: "..." }

Understanding Global Error Handling

Global error handling catches all errors.

Window Error Handler

Catches all errors
Access error details
Log to service
Prevent default

Unhandled Rejections

Promise rejections
Handle globally
Prevent crashes

Node.js Handlers

uncaughtException
unhandledRejection
Graceful shutdown

Error Logging

Centralized logging
Include context
Send to server
Track errors

Error Reporting

Report to service
Include metadata
User context
Stack traces

Best Practices

Set up early
Log properly
Don't crash app
Monitor errors

Let us now understand every line and the components of the above program.

Note: To write and run JavaScript programs, you need to set up the local environment on your computer. Refer to the complete article Setting up JavaScript Development Environment. If you do not want to set up the local environment on your computer, you can also use online IDE to write and run your JavaScript programs.

Table of Contents