Linxutopia - Thinking in C++ - 3: The C in C++

Thinking in C++
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Using and misusing goto

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The goto keyword is supported in C++, since it exists in C. Using goto is often dismissed as poor programming style, and most of the time it is. Anytime you use goto, look at your code and see if there’s another way to do it. On rare occasions, you may discover goto can solve a problem that can’t be solved otherwise, but still, consider it carefully. Here’s an example that might make a plausible candidate:

//: C03:gotoKeyword.cpp
// The infamous goto is supported in C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
  long val = 0;
  for(int i = 1; i < 1000; i++) {
    for(int j = 1; j < 100; j += 10) {
      val = i * j;
      if(val > 47000)
        goto bottom; 
        // Break would only go to the outer 'for'
    }
  }
  bottom: // A label
  cout << val << endl;
} ///:~

The alternative would be to set a Boolean that is tested in the outer for loop, and then do a break from the inner for loop. However, if you have several levels of for or while this could get awkward.

Thinking in C++
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