Labeled statements

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

Labeled statement syntax
 
>>-identifier--:--statement------------------------------------><
 

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

An identifier label may be used as the target of a goto statement. A goto statement can use a label before its definition. Identifier labels have their own namespace; you do not have to worry about identifier labels conflicting with other identifiers. However, you may not re-declare a label within a function.

An identifier label may also be used as the target of a #pragma exception_handler directive. See the Websphere Development Studio: ILE C/C++ Programmer’s Guide for examples and more information about using the #pragma exception_handler directive.

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

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

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

The following are examples of labels:

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

Related information

• The goto statement
• The switch statement