goto (C# Reference)

The goto statement transfers the program control directly to a labeled statement.

A common use of goto is to transfer control to a specific switch-case label or the default label in a switch statement.

The goto statement is also useful to get out of deeply nested loops.

Example

The following example demonstrates using goto in a switch statement.

 class SwitchTest
 {
 static void Main()
 {
 Console.WriteLine("Coffee sizes: 1=Small 2=Medium 3=Large");
 Console.Write("Please enter your selection: ");
 string s = Console.ReadLine();
 int n = int.Parse(s);
 int cost = 0;
 switch (n)
 {
 case 1:
 cost += 25;
 break;
 case 2:
 cost += 25;
 goto case 1;
 case 3:
 cost += 50;
 goto case 1;
 default:
 Console.WriteLine("Invalid selection.");
 break;
 }
 if (cost != 0)
 {
 Console.WriteLine("Please insert {0} cents.", cost);
 }
 Console.WriteLine("Thank you for your business.");
 // Keep the console open in debug mode.
 Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.");
 Console.ReadKey();
 }
 }
 /*
 Sample Input: 2
 Sample Output:
 Coffee sizes: 1=Small 2=Medium 3=Large
 Please enter your selection: 2
 Please insert 50 cents.
 Thank you for your business.
 */

The following example demonstrates using goto to break out from nested loops.

public class GotoTest1
{
 static void Main()
 {
 int x = 200, y = 4;
 int count = 0;
 string[,] array = new string[x, y];
 // Initialize the array:
 for (int i = 0; i < x; i++)
 for (int j = 0; j < y; j++)
 array[i, j] = (++count).ToString();
 // Read input:
 Console.Write("Enter the number to search for: ");
 // Input a string:
 string myNumber = Console.ReadLine();
 // Search:
 for (int i = 0; i < x; i++)
 {
 for (int j = 0; j < y; j++)
 {
 if (array[i, j].Equals(myNumber))
 {
 goto Found;
 }
 }
 }
 Console.WriteLine("The number {0} was not found.", myNumber);
 goto Finish;
 Found:
 Console.WriteLine("The number {0} is found.", myNumber);
 Finish:
 Console.WriteLine("End of search.");
 // Keep the console open in debug mode.
 Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.");
 Console.ReadKey();
 }
}
/*
Sample Input: 44
Sample Output
Enter the number to search for: 44
The number 44 is found.
End of search.
*/

C# Language Specification

For more information, see the C# Language Specification. The language specification is the definitive source for C# syntax and usage.

See Also

Reference

C# Keywords

goto Statement (C++)

Jump Statements (C# Reference)

Concepts

C# Programming Guide

Other Resources

C# Reference