# Error Handling Standardizer

> Creates consistent error handling with custom error classes, HTTP status mapping, structured logging, safe client messages, and error taxonomy. Use when standardizing "error handling", "logging", "error responses", or "exception management".

- Skill: `tomevault-io/error-handling-standardizer` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/error-handling-standardizer`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/error-handling-standardizer/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/error-handling-standardizer

---


# Error Handling Standardizer

Build consistent, debuggable error handling across the application.

## Error Taxonomy

```typescript
export class AppError extends Error {
  constructor(
    public code: string,
    public message: string,
    public statusCode: number = 500,
    public isOperational: boolean = true,
    public details?: any
  ) {
    super(message);
    Error.captureStackTrace(this, this.constructor);
  }
}

export class ValidationError extends AppError {
  constructor(details: Record<string, string[]>) {
    super("VALIDATION_ERROR", "Validation failed", 400, true, details);
  }
}

export class NotFoundError extends AppError {
  constructor(resource: string) {
    super("NOT_FOUND", `${resource} not found`, 404);
  }
}

export class UnauthorizedError extends AppError {
  constructor(message = "Unauthorized") {
    super("UNAUTHORIZED", message, 401);
  }
}

export class ForbiddenError extends AppError {
  constructor(message = "Forbidden") {
    super("FORBIDDEN", message, 403);
  }
}
```

## Error Handler Middleware

```typescript
export const errorHandler = (
  err: Error,
  req: Request,
  res: Response,
  next: NextFunction
) => {
  // Log error
  logger.error("Request error", {
    error: err.message,
    stack: err.stack,
    path: req.path,
    method: req.method,
    requestId: req.id,
  });

  // Operational errors (known)
  if (err instanceof AppError && err.isOperational) {
    return res.status(err.statusCode).json({
      success: false,
      error: {
        code: err.code,
        message: err.message,
        details: err.details,
        trace_id: req.id,
      },
    });
  }

  // Programming errors (unknown)
  return res.status(500).json({
    success: false,
    error: {
      code: "INTERNAL_ERROR",
      message: "An unexpected error occurred",
      trace_id: req.id,
    },
  });
};
```

## Structured Logging

```typescript
import winston from "winston";

export const logger = winston.createLogger({
  level: "info",
  format: winston.format.combine(
    winston.format.timestamp(),
    winston.format.errors({ stack: true }),
    winston.format.json()
  ),
  transports: [
    new winston.transports.File({ filename: "error.log", level: "error" }),
    new winston.transports.File({ filename: "combined.log" }),
  ],
});

// Log with context
logger.error("Payment processing failed", {
  userId: user.id,
  amount: payment.amount,
  error: err.message,
  trace_id: req.id,
});
```

## Safe Client Messages

```typescript
// Never expose internal errors to clients
const getSafeErrorMessage = (err: Error): string => {
  if (err instanceof AppError && err.isOperational) {
    return err.message; // Safe, user-facing message
  }

  // Generic message for unexpected errors
  return "An unexpected error occurred";
};
```

## Async Error Handling

```typescript
// Wrap async routes
export const asyncHandler = (fn: RequestHandler) => {
  return (req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) => {
    Promise.resolve(fn(req, res, next)).catch(next);
  };
};

// Usage
router.get(
  "/users",
  asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
    const users = await userService.findAll();
    res.json(users);
  })
);
```

## Best Practices

- Use custom error classes
- Distinguish operational vs programming errors
- Log all errors with context
- Never expose stack traces to clients
- Include trace IDs for debugging
- Monitor error rates by type
- Set up alerting for critical errors

## Output Checklist

- [ ] Custom error classes defined
- [ ] Error handler middleware
- [ ] HTTP status code mapping
- [ ] Structured logging setup
- [ ] Safe client error messages
- [ ] Async error wrapper
- [ ] Error monitoring/alerts
- [ ] Documentation of error codes

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->