Go errors: sentinel errors, error structs or fmt.Errorf — how to choose

📰 Dev.to · Odilon HUGONNOT

Learn how to choose between sentinel errors, error structs, and fmt.Errorf in Go for effective error handling

intermediate Published 21 Mar 2026
Action Steps
  1. Create a sentinel error using a custom error type to provide a unique identifier for a specific error
  2. Define an error struct to encapsulate additional error information and provide more context
  3. Use fmt.Errorf to create a simple error message with a dynamic format string
  4. Compare the use cases for each error pattern and choose the most suitable one for your specific situation
  5. Apply the chosen error pattern to your Go code and test it thoroughly
Who Needs to Know This

Go developers and engineers who want to improve their error handling skills will benefit from this article, as it provides concrete examples and guidelines for choosing the right error pattern

Key Insight

💡 Choosing the right error pattern in Go depends on the specific use case and the level of detail required for error handling

Share This
🚨 Master Go error handling: sentinel errors, error structs, or fmt.Errorf? 🤔 Learn how to choose the right one for your use case 📚

Full Article

Three Go error patterns explained through a concrete ClaudeGate code review case. When to create a sentinel error, an error struct, or just use fmt.Errorf.
Read full article → ← Back to Reads