goto


goto

(programming)(Or "GOTO", "go to", "GO TO", "JUMP", "JMP") Aconstruct and keyword found in several higher-levelprogramming languages (e.g. Fortran, COBOL, BASIC, C)to cause an unconditional jump or transfer of control fromone point in a program to another. The destination of thejump is usually indicated by a label following the GOTOkeyword.

In some languages, a label is a line number, in which caseevery statement may be labelled, in others a label is anoptional alphanumeric identifier.

Use of the GOTO instruction in high level languageprogramming fell into disrepute with the development andgeneral acceptance of structured programming, and especiallyfollowing the famous article "GOTO statement considered harmful". Since a GOTO is effectively an assignment to theprogram counter, it is tempting to make the generalisation"assignment considered harmful" and indeed, this is the basisof functional programming.

Nearly(?) all machine language instruction sets include aGOTO instruction, though in this context it is usually calledbranch or jump or some mnemonic based on these.

See also COME FROM.

Goto

 

an archipelago off the western coast of Kyushu, Japan. Part of the Nagasaki Prefecture, the archipelago includes more than 30 islands and an area of 645 sq km. The most important islands are Fukue (up to 30 km long) and Nakadori. The maximum elevation is 429 m. The climate is humid subtropical. There are rice paddies and tea and mulberry plantations, as well as fisheries. The principal towns in the Goto archipelago are Arikawa, Fukue, and Tomie.

goto

(1) In a high-level programming language, a statement that directs the computer to go to some other part of the program. Low-level language equivalents are "branch" and "jump."

(2) In dBASE, a command that directs the user to a specific record in the file.

(3) In word processing, a command that directs the user to a specific page number.