What is the purpose of the defer keyword in Go?
What is the purpose of the defer
keyword in Go?
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Khushi Singh
07-Apr-2025The Go programming language includes defer for scheduling function execution following completion of the enclosing function, just before returns occur. The language implements defer for functions that require automatic completion tasks even when the surrounding function exits through any means, including resource release measures (e.g., file closes, network disconnects) and mutex unlocking.
Deferred functions always execute automatically, and the main purpose of defer is to ensure cleanup operations succeed regardless of errors or early function returns. The LIFO execution order of deferred function calls starts from the most recently added deferred execution to the stack of pending operations.
The following example demonstrates how defer functions in programming:
Output
Key points about defer:
The defer keyword serves two essential purposes in Go: through reliable resource management, and it makes programs easier to understand by guaranteeing that cleanup procedures always execute.
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