Issue #22696: Add function :func:`sys.is_finalizing` to know about interpreter shutdown.

1 files changed, 13 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/Doc/glossary.rst b/Doc/glossary.rst
index 92877bd..87e2d8a 100644
--- a/Doc/glossary.rst
+++ b/Doc/glossary.rst
@@ -402,6 +402,19 @@ Glossary
       than compiled ones, though their programs generally also run more
       slowly.  See also :term:`interactive`.
 
+   interpreter shutdown
+      When asked to shut down, the Python interpreter enters a special phase
+      where it gradually releases all allocated resources, such as modules
+      and various critical internal structures.  It also makes several calls
+      to the :term:`garbage collector <garbage collection>`. This can trigger
+      the execution of code in user-defined destructors or weakref callbacks.
+      Code executed during the shutdown phase can encounter various
+      exceptions as the resources it relies on may not function anymore
+      (common examples are library modules or the warnings machinery).
+
+      The main reason for interpreter shutdown is that the ``__main__`` module
+      or the script being run has finished executing.
+
    iterable
       An object capable of returning its members one at a time. Examples of
       iterables include all sequence types (such as :class:`list`, :class:`str`,