
error-handling
Implement robust error handling in Node.js with custom error classes, async patterns, Express middleware, and production monitoring
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill error-handling- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads error-handling automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Node.js Error Handling Skill
Master error handling patterns for building resilient Node.js applications that fail gracefully and provide meaningful feedback.
Quick Start
Error handling in 4 layers:
- Custom Error Classes - Typed, informative errors
- Try/Catch Patterns - Sync and async handling
- Express Middleware - Centralized API errors
- Process Handlers - Uncaught exceptions
Core Concepts
Custom Error Classes
// Base application error
class AppError extends Error {
constructor(message, statusCode, code) {
super(message);
this.statusCode = statusCode;
this.code = code;
this.isOperational = true;
Error.captureStackTrace(this, this.constructor);
}
}
// Specific error types
class ValidationError extends AppError {
constructor(message, details = []) {
super(message, 400, 'VALIDATION_ERROR');
this.details = details;
}
}
class NotFoundError extends AppError {
constructor(resource = 'Resource') {
super(`${resource} not found`, 404, 'NOT_FOUND');
}
}
class UnauthorizedError extends AppError {
constructor(message = 'Authentication required') {
super(message, 401, 'UNAUTHORIZED');
}
}
class ForbiddenError extends AppError {
constructor(message = 'Access denied') {
super(message, 403, 'FORBIDDEN');
}
}
Async Error Handling
// Async wrapper for Express routes
const asyncHandler = (fn) => (req, res, next) => {
Promise.resolve(fn(req, res, next)).catch(next);
};
// Usage
router.get('/users/:id', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
const user = await User.findById(req.params.id);
if (!user) throw new NotFoundError('User');
res.json(user);
}));
Express Error Middleware
const errorHandler = (err, req, res, next) => {
// Log error
logger.error({
message: err.message,
stack: err.stack,
code: err.code,
url: req.originalUrl
});
// Handle operational errors
if (err.isOperational) {
return res.status(err.statusCode).json({
success: false,
error: {
message: err.message,
code: err.code,
...(err.details && { details: err.details })
}
});
}
// Production: hide internal errors
if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
return res.status(500).json({
success: false,
error: { message: 'Internal server error', code: 'INTERNAL_ERROR' }
});
}
// Development: show stack
res.status(500).json({
success: false,
error: { message: err.message, stack: err.stack }
});
};
Learning Path
Beginner (1-2 weeks)
- ✅ Understand Error types
- ✅ Try/catch for sync code
- ✅ Promise .catch() handling
- ✅ Basic Express error middleware
Intermediate (3-4 weeks)
- ✅ Custom error classes
- ✅ Async error wrapper
- ✅ Centralized error handling
- ✅ Error logging with Winston
Advanced (5-6 weeks)
- ✅ Production error monitoring
- ✅ Graceful shutdown
- ✅ Circuit breaker patterns
- ✅ Error recovery strategies
Process-Level Error Handling
// Uncaught exceptions
process.on('uncaughtException', (error) => {
console.error('Uncaught Exception:', error);
logger.fatal({ error }, 'Uncaught exception');
process.exit(1);
});
// Unhandled promise rejections
process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason, promise) => {
console.error('Unhandled Rejection:', reason);
logger.error({ reason }, 'Unhandled rejection');
});
// Graceful shutdown
process.on('SIGTERM', async () => {
console.log('SIGTERM received. Graceful shutdown...');
server.close(() => console.log('HTTP server closed'));
await mongoose.connection.close();
process.exit(0);
});
Retry with Exponential Backoff
async function retryOperation(fn, options = {}) {
const { maxRetries = 3, delay = 1000, backoff = 2 } = options;
let lastError;
for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
try {
return await fn();
} catch (error) {
lastError = error;
if (attempt === maxRetries) throw error;
const waitTime = delay * Math.pow(backoff, attempt - 1);
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, waitTime));
}
}
throw lastError;
}
Error Response Format
// Success
{ "success": true, "data": { ... } }
// Error
{
"success": false,
"error": {
"message": "User not found",
"code": "NOT_FOUND",
"details": [],
"timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}
}
Unit Test Template
describe('Error Handling', () => {
describe('ValidationError', () => {
it('should create error with correct properties', () => {
const error = new ValidationError('Invalid input', [
{ field: 'email', message: 'Required' }
]);
expect(error.statusCode).toBe(400);
expect(error.code).toBe('VALIDATION_ERROR');
expect(error.isOperational).toBe(true);
});
});
describe('asyncHandler', () => {
it('should catch async errors', async () => {
const mockNext = jest.fn();
const handler = asyncHandler(async () => {
throw new Error('Test error');
});
await handler({}, {}, mockNext);
expect(mockNext).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Error));
});
});
});
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Unhandled rejection warnings | Missing .catch() | Add process handler + local catches |
| Error swallowed silently | Empty catch block | Log or rethrow errors |
| Stack trace missing | Error.captureStackTrace not called | Use AppError base class |
| Memory leak from errors | Storing error references | Use WeakMap or clean up |
When to Use
Use proper error handling when:
- Building production Node.js applications
- Creating REST APIs with Express
- Handling database operations
- Processing external API calls
- Implementing retry logic
Related Skills
- Express REST API (API error responses)
- Async Programming (promise rejections)
- Testing & Debugging (error testing)
Resources
FAQ
What does the error-handling skill do?
Implement robust error handling in Node.js with custom error classes, async patterns, Express middleware, and production monitoring
How do I install error-handling?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs --skill error-handling in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/error-handling/ (personal) or .claude/skills/error-handling/ (project).
Which AI agents can use error-handling?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is error-handling safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains error-handling?
It is published by pluginagentmarketplace in pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-nodejs. It has 60 recorded installs.
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