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Error handling

Error handling represents one of the most important considerations when implementing a Node.js native add-on. When an error occurs in your C++ code you have to handle and dispatch it correctly. node-addon-api uses return values and JavaScript exceptions for error handling. You can choose return values or exception handling based on the mechanism that works best for your add-on.

The Napi::Error is a persistent reference (for more info see: Napi::ObjectReference) to a JavaScript error object. Use of this class depends on whether C++ exceptions are enabled at compile time.

If C++ exceptions are enabled (for more info see: Setup), then the Napi::Error class extends std::exception and enables integrated error-handling for C++ exceptions and JavaScript exceptions.

Note, that due to limitations of the Node-API, if one attempts to cast the error object wrapping a primitive inside a C++ addon, the wrapped object will be received instead. (With property 4bda9e7e-4913-4dbc-95de-891cbf66598e-errorVal containing the primitive value thrown)

The following sections explain the approach for each case:

In most cases when an error occurs, the addon should do whatever cleanup is possible and then return to JavaScript so that the error can be propagated. In less frequent cases the addon may be able to recover from the error, clear the error and then continue.

Handling Errors With C++ Exceptions

When C++ exceptions are enabled try/catch can be used to catch exceptions thrown from calls to JavaScript and then they can either be handled or rethrown before returning from a native method.

If a node-addon-api call fails without executing any JavaScript code (for example due to an invalid argument), then node-addon-api automatically converts and throws the error as a C++ exception of type Napi::Error.

If a JavaScript function called by C++ code via node-addon-api throws a JavaScript exception, then node-addon-api automatically converts and throws it as a C++ exception of type Napi::Error on return from the JavaScript code to the native method.

If a C++ exception of type Napi::Error escapes from a Node-API C++ callback, then the Node-API wrapper automatically converts and throws it as a JavaScript exception.

On return from a native method, node-addon-api will automatically convert a pending Napi::Error C++ exception to a JavaScript exception.

When C++ exceptions are enabled try/catch can be used to catch exceptions thrown from calls to JavaScript and then they can either be handled or rethrown before returning from a native method.

Examples with C++ exceptions enabled

Throwing a C++ exception

Env env = ...
throw Napi::Error::New(env, "Example exception");
// other C++ statements
// ...

The statements following the throw statement will not be executed. The exception will bubble up as a C++ exception of type Napi::Error, until it is either caught while still in C++, or else automatically propagated as a JavaScript exception when returning to JavaScript.

Propagating a Node-API C++ exception

Napi::Function jsFunctionThatThrows = someValue.As<Napi::Function>();
Napi::Value result = jsFunctionThatThrows({ arg1, arg2 });
// other C++ statements
// ...

The C++ statements following the call to the JavaScript function will not be executed. The exception will bubble up as a C++ exception of type Napi::Error, until it is either caught while still in C++, or else automatically propagated as a JavaScript exception when returning to JavaScript.

Handling a Node-API C++ exception

Napi::Function jsFunctionThatThrows = someValue.As<Napi::Function>();
Napi::Value result;
try {
    result = jsFunctionThatThrows({ arg1, arg2 });
} catch (const Error& e) {
    cerr << "Caught JavaScript exception: " + e.what();
}

Since the exception was caught here, it will not be propagated as a JavaScript exception.

Handling Errors With Maybe Type and C++ Exceptions Disabled

If C++ exceptions are disabled (for more info see: Setup), then the Napi::Error class does not extend std::exception. This means that any calls to node-addon-api functions do not throw a C++ exceptions. Instead, these node-api functions that call into JavaScript are returning with Maybe boxed values. In that case, the calling side should convert the Maybe boxed values with checks to ensure that the call did succeed and therefore no exception is pending. If the check fails, that is to say, the returning value is empty, the calling side should determine what to do with env.GetAndClearPendingException() before attempting to call another node-api (for more info see: Env).

The conversion from the Maybe boxed value to the actual return value is enforced by compilers so that the exceptions must be properly handled before continuing.

Examples with Maybe Type and C++ exceptions disabled

Throwing a JS exception

Napi::Env env = ...
Napi::Error::New(env, "Example exception").ThrowAsJavaScriptException();
return;

After throwing a JavaScript exception, the code should generally return immediately from the native callback, after performing any necessary cleanup.

Propagating a Node-API JS exception

Napi::Env env = ...
Napi::Function jsFunctionThatThrows = someValue.As<Napi::Function>();
Maybe<Napi::Value> maybeResult = jsFunctionThatThrows({ arg1, arg2 });
Napi::Value result;
if (!maybeResult.To(&result)) {
    // The Maybe is empty, calling into js failed, cleaning up...
    // It is recommended to return an empty Maybe if the procedure failed.
    return result;
}

If maybeResult.To(&result) returns false a JavaScript exception is pending. To let the exception propagate, the code should generally return immediately from the native callback, after performing any necessary cleanup.

Handling a Node-API JS exception

Napi::Env env = ...
Napi::Function jsFunctionThatThrows = someValue.As<Napi::Function>();
Maybe<Napi::Value> maybeResult = jsFunctionThatThrows({ arg1, arg2 });
if (maybeResult.IsNothing()) {
    Napi::Error e = env.GetAndClearPendingException();
    cerr << "Caught JavaScript exception: " + e.Message();
}

Since the exception was cleared here, it will not be propagated as a JavaScript exception after the native callback returns.

Handling Errors Without C++ Exceptions

If C++ exceptions are disabled (for more info see: Setup), then the Napi::Error class does not extend std::exception. This means that any calls to node-addon-api function do not throw a C++ exceptions. Instead, it raises pending JavaScript exceptions and returns an empty Napi::Value. The calling code should check env.IsExceptionPending() before attempting to use a returned value, and may use methods on the Napi::Env class to check for, get, and clear a pending JavaScript exception (for more info see: Env). If the pending exception is not cleared, it will be thrown when the native code returns to JavaScript.

Examples with C++ exceptions disabled

Throwing a JS exception

Napi::Env env = ...
Napi::Error::New(env, "Example exception").ThrowAsJavaScriptException();
return;

After throwing a JavaScript exception, the code should generally return immediately from the native callback, after performing any necessary cleanup.

Propagating a Node-API JS exception

Napi::Env env = ...
Napi::Function jsFunctionThatThrows = someValue.As<Napi::Function>();
Napi::Value result = jsFunctionThatThrows({ arg1, arg2 });
if (env.IsExceptionPending()) {
    Error e = env.GetAndClearPendingException();
    return e.Value();
}

If env.IsExceptionPending() returns true a JavaScript exception is pending. To let the exception propagate, the code should generally return immediately from the native callback, after performing any necessary cleanup.

Handling a Node-API JS exception

Napi::Env env = ...
Napi::Function jsFunctionThatThrows = someValue.As<Napi::Function>();
Napi::Value result = jsFunctionThatThrows({ arg1, arg2 });
if (env.IsExceptionPending()) {
    Napi::Error e = env.GetAndClearPendingException();
    cerr << "Caught JavaScript exception: " + e.Message();
}

Since the exception was cleared here, it will not be propagated as a JavaScript exception after the native callback returns.

Calling Node-API directly from a node-addon-api addon

node-addon-api provides macros for throwing errors in response to non-OK napi_status results when calling Node-API functions from within a native addon. These macros are defined differently depending on whether C++ exceptions are enabled or not, but are available for use in either case.

NAPI_THROW(e, ...)

This macro accepts a Napi::Error, throws it, and returns the value given as the last parameter. If C++ exceptions are enabled (by defining NAPI_CPP_EXCEPTIONS during the build), the return value will be ignored.

NAPI_THROW_IF_FAILED(env, status, ...)

This macro accepts a Napi::Env and a napi_status. It constructs an error from the napi_status, throws it, and returns the value given as the last parameter. If C++ exceptions are enabled (by defining NAPI_CPP_EXCEPTIONS during the build), the return value will be ignored.

NAPI_THROW_IF_FAILED_VOID(env, status)

This macro accepts a Napi::Env and a napi_status. It constructs an error from the napi_status, throws it, and returns.

NAPI_FATAL_IF_FAILED(status, location, message)

This macro accepts a napi_status, a C string indicating the location where the error occurred, and a second C string for the message to display.