The '''STOP''' statement is used to stop program execution when troubleshooting a program or to suspend event trapping.
{{PageSyntax}}
:: STOP
* STOP used in the QBasic IDE does not close any files or go to the operating system. It returns to the IDE.
* In the QB64 compiler, STOP closes the program window and returns to the IDE when the code is compiled from there.
* STOP is ONLY used for debugging purposes and should not be used to exit programs!
* STOP can also be used to suspend an event trap in the following statements: [[KEY(n)]], [[ON COM (n)|COM(n)]], [[PEN]], [[PLAY]], [[STRIG(n)]], [[TIMER]], [[UEVENT]]. The trap can be turned back on with [[ON]] and returns any trap events since '''STOP''' was used.
''Example:'' When run in the QBasic IDE, the program will return to the IDE at STOP. Press F5 to finish the program.
{{CodeStart}}
{{Cl|PRINT}} "start"
{{Cl|SLEEP}} 3
{{Cl|STOP}}
{{Cl|PRINT}} "resumed"
{{CodeEnd}}
: ''Explanation:'' QB64 will STOP the program and close the window as it does not have an interpreter to run the rest of the code.