Control Statements in VB.NET: GoTo Statement

In VB.NET, the GoTo statement allows you to transfer control unconditionally to a line label within the same procedure. While it's generally recommended to avoid using GoTo as it can make code harder to read and debug, there are still some situations where it can be useful.

Syntax

Here's the basic syntax for the GoTo statement:

GoTo line_label

line_label is the name of a line label within the same procedure. It should start with a colon : and have no spaces.

Example

Here's an example of how to use the GoTo statement in VB.NET:

Dim i As Integer = 1

repeat:
    Console.WriteLine(i)
    i += 1
    If i <= 10 Then
        GoTo repeat
    End If

This code uses a GoTo statement to jump back to the repeat label and repeat the loop until i reaches 10.

Output

The output of the code above will be the numbers 1 through 10, printed on separate lines in the console.

Explanation

The use of GoTo statement in VB.NET can be helpful in many scenarios where a piece of code needs to be repeated multiple times, especially when the number of repetitions is not known in advance or depends on some runtime condition.

In this example, the program iterates from 1 to 10 using a repeat label and GoTo statement to jump back to the start of the loop until the condition is met.

Use

The GoTo statement can be useful in certain scenarios where other control structures such as loops or conditional statements are not adequate or are less efficient.

For example, it can be used for error handling or to terminate a deeply nested construct more efficiently. However, it should be used with caution and only where necessary, as its overuse can make code harder to read and maintain.

Important Points

• The GoTo statement can make code harder to read and debug and should be used only where necessary.
• It can be useful for error handling or to terminate a deeply nested construct more efficiently.

Summary

In this page, we discussed the GoTo statement in VB.NET, including its syntax, example, output, explanation, use, and important points. Although it is less commonly used in modern programming, the GoTo statement can still be a useful tool in certain scenarios where other control structures are not adequate or less efficient. However, it should be used with caution and only when necessary.