Introduction
The goto statement is a control flow statement used in computer programming. It is used to transfer control to a different part of the program. The goto statement is considered harmful by many programmers and is often discouraged as it can make code difficult to read and maintain.
History
The goto statement has been around since the early days of programming languages. It was first introduced in the Fortran programming language in the 1950s. It was also included in the early versions of the C programming language. However, as programming languages evolved, the use of goto statements became less common.
Syntax
The syntax of the goto statement is simple. It consists of the keyword "goto" followed by a label. The label is a user-defined identifier that marks a specific point in the program. When the goto statement is executed, the program jumps to the statement immediately following the label.
Examples
Here is an example of how the goto statement can be used in C programming:
```
#include
int main() {
int i = 1;
start:
printf("%d\n", i);
i++;
if (i <= 10) {
goto start;
}
return 0;
```
In this example, the program prints the numbers 1 to 10 using a loop. The loop is implemented using a goto statement that jumps back to the "start" label until the condition is met.
Controversy
The goto statement is controversial among programmers. Some argue that it can make code difficult to read and maintain, especially when used excessively. Others argue that it can be a useful tool in certain situations, such as implementing error handling or breaking out of nested loops.
Conclusion
The goto statement is a control flow statement used in computer programming. While it can be a useful tool in certain situations, it is generally considered harmful and is often discouraged. Programmers should use caution when using the goto statement and consider alternative control flow structures when possible.