Labels

There are three kinds of labels: identifier, case, and default.

Identifier label statements have the following form:

>>-identifier--:--statement------------------------------------><
 
 

The label consists of the identifier and the colon (:) character.

C A label name must be unique within the function in which it appears.

C++In C++, an identifier label may only be used as the target of a goto statement. A goto statement can use a label before its definition. Identifier labels have their own name space; you do not have to worry about identifier labels conflicting with other identifiers. However, you may not redeclare a label within a function.

Case and default label statements only appear in switch statements. These labels are accessible only within the closest enclosing switch statement.

Case statements have the following form:

>>-case--constant_expression--:--statement---------------------><
 
 

Default label statements have the following form:

>>-default--:--statement---------------------------------------><
 
 

Examples of Labels

 comment_complete : ;            /* null statement label */
 test_for_null : if (NULL == pointer)

Related References

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