0x80000003

0x80000003 is a hexadecimal constant commonly encountered in Windows debugging and error reporting. In Windows terminology, it denotes a breakpoint: EXCEPTION_BREAKPOINT in the structured exception handling (SEH) system. When a program executes a breakpoint instruction, such as an INT 3 instruction or a call to the DebugBreak function, the processor raises a breakpoint exception with code 0x80000003. If a debugger is attached, execution is typically halted at the breakpoint to allow inspection of state and memory.

In addition to being described as an exception code, 0x80000003 is sometimes listed among NTSTATUS values as STATUS_BREAKPOINT. Status codes are used by kernel-mode interfaces and certain APIs to communicate outcomes. While the numeric value is the same, the usage context differs: SEH uses exception codes during structured try/except blocks, while NTSTATUS values represent statuses returned by routine calls in kernel or driver contexts.

Common sources of 0x80000003 include debugging sessions, deliberate breakpoints inserted by developers, or software that triggers breakpoints during execution. When encountered, the behavior depends on the environment: a connected debugger will typically break, whereas without an attached debugger the exception may terminate the process or be reported by crash analysis tools.

Handling guidance is context-specific. In user-mode code, developers can manage the exception with proper SEH constructs or remove breakpoints as appropriate. In debugging workflows, encountering 0x80000003 usually indicates a breakpoint has been reached rather than a fault such as access violations, though it can be triggered by programmatic debugging constructs or misconfigurations in a debugging session.