Place your torches on the left side of the caves. That way, when your looking for the exit. Follow the torches on the right.
If you head down a cave & it turns out to be a dead end, Mine all the resources, grab your torches on the way out, & block the entrance with Cobblestone. That way you will know that cave leads to a dead end.
You can always make a temporary base somewhere easy to find. Like close to the cave entrance, but some distance into the cave. Place a chest or two with some sticks inside & other things you may need. Also place an oven & crafting table inside. As well as a water spring for an infinite water source. When your inventory becomes full, head back to the temporary base to unload your findings, save the game, restock on tools, & head back into the cave. This will save time walking back to your main base/house.
Torches on the right wall, any further light needed should be placed on the ground. This way you can find your way out easily by following the torches back (they would be on the left as you return, so easy in, easy out). Take a bucket of water with you in case you come across lava, this way you can cross without having to find a way around. Take a couple of pickaxes with you, at least 1 iron pickaxe, so that you can pull anything valuable to you out while you're exploring. Food and weaponry is a necessity going into any dark place. IF you have enough iron, go in wearing a set of Iron Armor. Just in case a creeper sneaks up on you. This should save your hide once, maybe twice if they explode on top of you.
If you head down a cave & it turns out to be a dead end, Mine all the resources, grab your torches on the way out, & block the entrance with Cobblestone. That way you will know that cave leads to a dead end.
You can always make a temporary base somewhere easy to find. Like close to the cave entrance, but some distance into the cave. Place a chest or two with some sticks inside & other things you may need. Also place an oven & crafting table inside. As well as a water spring for an infinite water source. When your inventory becomes full, head back to the temporary base to unload your findings, save the game, restock on tools, & head back into the cave. This will save time walking back to your main base/house.