C goto Statement – Complete Guide with Examples

The goto statement in C is used to jump to a labeled part of the program. It can transfer control anywhere within the same function, regardless of the normal flow of execution.

Use goto with caution—it can make code harder to read and maintain.

Syntax of goto in C

Example: Basic `goto` Usage

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int num = 3;

    if (num == 3) {
        goto skip;
    }

    printf("This line is skipped.\n");

skip:
    printf("Jumped to the label 'skip'.\n");

    return 0;
}

Output:

Example: Using goto to Exit Nested Loops

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
        for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
            if (i == 2 && j == 2) {
                goto exit_loops;
            }
            printf("i = %d, j = %d\n", i, j);
        }
    }

exit_loops:
    printf("Exited both loops using goto.\n");

    return 0;
}

Output:

When to Use goto (Rarely)

Use Case	Why
Exiting multiple nested loops	Cleaner than using multiple flags
Jumping to error handling section	Used in some legacy C systems

When NOT to Use goto

Poor Practice	Reason
Jumping across large code blocks	Reduces readability
Skipping initialization or cleanup	May lead to bugs or memory leaks
Overusing in modern code	Better alternatives exist (loops, functions)

Best Practices

Practice	Reason
Use meaningful label names	Improves clarity
Minimize `goto` usage	Makes the code cleaner and structured
Replace `goto` with loops/functions	Encourages structured programming