What is the difference between log.Fatal and log.Panic?

Question

Accepted Answer

**log.Fatal** — exit. **log.Panic** — panic.

```go
log.Fatal("Error")  // Exit(1), no defer
log.Panic("Error")  // Panic, defer runs
```

**When to use log.Fatal:**
- Startup failures.

**When to use log.Panic:**
- Errors requiring cleanup.

**Common mistakes:**
- Using `log.Fatal` when cleanup needed.
- Using `log.Panic` without `recover()`.
- Forgetting `log.Fatal` skips deferred functions.
- Using either for normal error handling.
- Using `log.Fatal` in goroutines.

Go: What is the difference between log.Fatal and log.Panic?