C++ goto Statement

In this lesson, you will learn about another Jump Statement in C++, the goto statement, with examples to better understand the topic.

C++ goto Statement

In C++, The goto Statement changes how a program runs and transfers control to a different statement inside the same program. A goto statement causes the compiler to move control to the label indicated by the “goto” statement and start execution there.

Basic Syntax

goto label1;
...
Label1:

The goto statement is not required in every C++ application, and it is generally recommended to avoid using it.

The statement against the goto Statement

The “goto” statement allows users to jump to any location inside a program but complicates and muddles the program’s logic. The “goto” statement is viewed as a destructive construct and poor programming practice in contemporary programming.

Example

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;
int main() {
  int number;
  startAgain:
    cout << "\nGuess the number:";
  cin >> number;
  if ((number >= 155) && (number <= 200)) {
    cout << "\nYou won.";
    goto startAgain;
  } else {
    cout << "You lose.";
  }
  return 0;
}

Output

Guess the number:156
You won.
Guess the number:154
You lose.

An identifier startAgain is a label in the above example. The program’s control jumps to label: startAgain and runs the code there when goto “startAgain” is encountered. The condition becomes true at if ((number >= 155) && (number <= 200)) when the user enters 156 and prints “You won”. Again program found the label startAgain and asked the user to prompt the input.

This concludes the C++ goto Statement lesson. The next lesson will teach about functions in C++.