Labels ......

[meeta verma]

public class While1
{
  public static void main(String []args)
  {
    int I=0;
    label:
      {
        if (I<2)
          {
            System.out.println("I is"+I);
            I++;
            continue label;
          }
    }
  }
 
}

Why this gives a compilation error? Is continue to be used only with for and while.
(code tags added)

[ May 24, 2004: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]
[ May 24, 2004: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Barry Gaunt]

Well the compilation error is:

 C:\download\While1.java:12: not a loop label: label
            continue label;
            ^ 

And the Java Language Specification says:

If no while, do, or for statement of the immediately enclosing method or initializer block encloses the continue statement, a compile-time error occurs.

[ May 24, 2004: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Jeroen Wenting]

in other words, labels can ONLY be used in conjunction with loops.

10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD!"
20 GOTO 10

is therefore illegal code in Java.

label10: for (int i=0;i<1;i++)
{
  System.out.println("HELLO WORLD!");
  i = -1;
  continue label10;
}

is legal if not exactly good coding style

[Wendal Park]

Yes, using labels referred to loops is legal in Java. You may hence think it's not the usual coding style. However, for labels that are used in nested loops scenario, it may give you a better idea about the true value of using labels. It gives an alternative to manipulating a couple of indices in a program (which make code less readable).