C Syntax

A goto statement is used to branch (transfer control) to another location in a program.

Syntax Diagrams

---

BNF

goto-statement

::= 'goto' <label>

---

EBNF

goto-statement

::= 'goto' <label>

goto-statement

The goto statement can only be used within the body of a function definition.

goto-statement

The goto statement transfers control to the labeled statement whose label matches the identifier.

• The goto statement is never necessary; it can always be elimitated by rearranging the code.
• Use of the goto statement violates the rules of structured programming.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main () {
  unsigned Count;
  unsigned x;

  Count = rand () % 7;
  printf ("The count is %i.  \nThis is ", Count);
  switch (Count) {
    case 0:
      printf ("none.\n");
      goto next;
    case 1:
      printf ("only one.\n");
      goto next;
    case 2:
      printf ("a pair.\n");
      goto next;
    case 3:
      printf ("three.\n");
      goto next;
    default:
      printf ("many.\n");
      goto next;
  }
  next:
  
  x = rand () % 5;
  printf ("The test number is %i.\n", x);
  while (x < 10) {
    ++x;
    if (x % 2 == 0) {
      goto done;
    }
    printf ("%i is an odd number.\n", x);
  }
  done:
  
  return 0;
}

The count is 4.  
This is many.
The test number is 2.
3 is an odd number.