goto (C# Reference) 

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

Remarks

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.

// statements_goto_switch.cs
using System;
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.");
    }
}

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.

// statements_goto.cs
// Nested search loops
using System;
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.");
    }
}

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

Reference

C# Keywords
The goto Statement
Jump Statements (C# Reference)

Concepts

C# Programming Guide

Other Resources

C# Reference