# fail Definition
**Definition:** Helper to return a failed action result with an HTTP
status and data. Does not throw.
**Syntax:** `fail(status: number, data?: unknown)`
**Parameters:**
- `status` — HTTP status code (e.g., 400, 422)
- `data` — serializable error payload
**Returns:** An `ActionFailure` consumed by SvelteKit.
## Example
```ts
import { fail } from '@sveltejs/kit';
return fail(400, { field: 'email', message: 'Email required' });
```
## Related
- `actions`, `enhance`