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 following sections in the C# Language Specification:

• 5.3.3.10 Break, continue, and goto statements

• 8.9.3 The goto statement

See Also

Concepts

C# Programming Guide

Reference

C# Keywords

The goto Statement

Jump Statements (C# Reference)

Other Resources

C# Reference