exit() Exit interpreter
Last updated: 2026-09-22
exit() Exit interpreter
exit() / quit() exits the interactive interpreter by raising SystemExit. Should NOT be used in production code.
| Category | Built-in Functions |
|---|---|
| Kind | Built-in Function |
| Python Version | all |
📝 Syntax
exit([code])⚙️ Parameters
| code Optional | Exit code (int or None); None means a normal exit.（Default：None） |
|---|
Returns：Never returns: raises SystemExit to terminate the interpreter.
💥 Raises
SystemExit— Always raised on call (the normal exit mechanism).
▶ Example
Edit the code, press Run, and see the result in the output panel:
Output：
system exit: 0🏷️ Related Built-in Functions
💡 Related Cases
More case studies coming soon — check back later.
❓ FAQ
QCan exit() be used in a script?
ATechnically yes (it raises SystemExit to terminate the program), but the documentation targets the interactive interpreter; for exiting in a script, sys.exit(code) is the more standard choice.
QWhat is the difference between exit(0) and exit(1)?
AThe exit code differs: 0 means normal exit, non-zero (like 1) indicates an error, letting external scripts, CI, or the command line judge success by the return value.
QHow does exit() terminate the interpreter?
AIt raises a SystemExit exception, which terminates the interpreter when uncaught; so you can intercept the exit flow with try/except SystemExit.
QWhat is the difference between exit() and quit()?
AThere is no substantive difference — quit() is an alias of exit(), with identical SystemExit behavior and exit-code semantics.
