---

name: fp-ts-errors description: "Handle errors as values using fp-ts Either and TaskEither for cleaner, more predictable TypeScript code. Use when implementing error handling patterns with fp-ts." risk: safe source: "https://github.com/whatiskadudoing/fp-ts-skills" date_added: "2026-02-27"

Practical Error Handling with fp-ts

This skill teaches you how to handle errors without try/catch spaghetti. No academic jargon - just practical patterns for real problems.

When to Use This Skill

• When you want type-safe error handling in TypeScript
• When replacing try/catch with Either and TaskEither patterns
• When building APIs or services that need explicit error types
• When accumulating multiple validation errors

The core idea: Errors are just data. Instead of throwing them into the void and hoping someone catches them, return them as values that TypeScript can track.

---

1. Stop Throwing Everywhere

The Problem with Exceptions

Exceptions are invisible in your types. They break the contract between functions.

// What this function signature promises:
function getUser(id: string): User

// What it actually does:
function getUser(id: string): User {
  if (!id) throw new Error('ID required')
  const user = db.find(id)
  if (!user) throw new Error('User not found')
  return user
}

// The caller has no idea this can fail
const user = getUser(id) // Might explode!

You end up with code like this:

// MESSY: try/catch everywhere
function processOrder(orderId: string) {
  let order
  try {
    order = getOrder(orderId)
  } catch (e) {
    console.error('Failed to get order')
    return null
  }

  let user
  try {
    user = getUser(order.userId)
  } catch (e) {
    console.error('Failed to get user')
    return null
  }

  let payment
  try {
    payment = chargeCard(user.cardId, order.total)
  } catch (e) {
    console.error('Payment failed')
    return null
  }

  return { order, user, payment }
}

The Solution: Return Errors as Values

import * as E from 'fp-ts/Either'
import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'

// Now TypeScript KNOWS this can fail
function getUser(id: string): E.Either<string, User> {
  if (!id) return E.left('ID required')
  const user = db.find(id)
  if (!user) return E.left('User not found')
  return E.right(user)
}

// The caller is forced to handle both cases
const result = getUser(id)
// result is Either<string, User> - error OR success, never both

---

2. The Result Pattern (Either)

Either<E, A> is simple: it holds either an error (E) or a value (A).

• Left = error case
• Right = success case (think "right" as in "correct")

import * as E from 'fp-ts/Either'

// Creating values
const success = E.right(42)           // Right(42)
const failure = E.left('Oops')        // Left('Oops')

// Checking what you have
if (E.isRight(result)) {
  console.log(result.right) // The success value
} else {
  console.log(result.left)  // The error
}

// Better: pattern match with fold
const message = pipe(
  result,
  E.fold(
    (error) => `Failed: ${error}`,
    (value) => `Got: ${value}`
  )
)

Converting Throwing Code to Either

// Wrap any throwing function with tryCatch
const parseJSON = (json: string): E.Either<Error, unknown> =>
  E.tryCatch(
    () => JSON.parse(json),
    (e) => (e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e)))
  )

parseJSON('{"valid": true}')  // Right({ valid: true })
parseJSON('not json')          // Left(SyntaxError: ...)

// For functions you'll reuse, use tryCatchK
const safeParseJSON = E.tryCatchK(
  JSON.parse,
  (e) => (e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e)))
)

Common Either Operations

import * as E from 'fp-ts/Either'
import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'

// Transform the success value
const doubled = pipe(
  E.right(21),
  E.map(n => n * 2)
) // Right(42)

// Transform the error
const betterError = pipe(
  E.left('bad'),
  E.mapLeft(e => `Error: ${e}`)
) // Left('Error: bad')

// Provide a default for errors
const value = pipe(
  E.left('failed'),
  E.getOrElse(() => 0)
) // 0

// Convert nullable to Either
const fromNullable = E.fromNullable('not found')
fromNullable(user)  // Right(user) if exists, Left('not found') if null/undefined

---

3. Chaining Operations That Might Fail

The real power comes from chaining. Each step can fail, but you write it as a clean pipeline.

Before: Nested Try/Catch Hell

// MESSY: Each step can fail, nested try/catch everywhere
function processUserOrder(userId: string, productId: string): Result | null {
  let user
  try {
    user = getUser(userId)
  } catch (e) {
    logError('User fetch failed', e)
    return null
  }

  if (!user.isActive) {
    logError('User not active')
    return null
  }

  let product
  try {
    product = getProduct(productId)
  } catch (e) {
    logError('Product fetch failed', e)
    return null
  }

  if (product.stock