KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q19972: INFO: Jumping into the Middle of a For Loop Is Not Recommended

Article: Q19972
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0,1.5,2.0,4.0,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbLangC kbVC kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600
Last Modified: 12-DEC-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, versions 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition, version 6.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

In Microsoft C and in Microsoft C/C++, the goto statement and its corresponding
label must be part of the same function; no other restrictions apply. However,
because different compilers optimize for loops and allocate stack space for
automatic variables in various ways, using a goto statement to transfer
flow-of-control into the middle of a for loop is not portable and is considered
unsafe.

The most common use for the goto statement in structured programming involves
error handling. In these cases, the goto statement usually leads out of a deeply
nested for loop.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbLangC kbVC kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbvc150 kbvc100 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbVC200 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC500Search
Version           : :1.0,1.5,2.0,4.0,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.