INFO: Using Goto Label Before Closing Brace Causes C2143 Error

• The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE)
  • Microsoft C compiler for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0ax
  • Microsoft C compiler for OS/2, versions 6.0, 6.0a
  • Microsoft C/C++ compiler for MS-DOS, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

When using a goto statement, the label referenced by that statement must be followed by a null statement (a semicolon) if it immediately precedes a closing curly brace (}). Failure to include a semicolon (;) in this case results in the following compiler error:

error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '}'

MORE INFORMATION

The requirement of the null statement before the closing curly brace is part of the C language and is documented in the ANSI specification in Section 3.6.3 as follows:

A null statement may also be used to carry a label just before the closing } of a compound statement.

Sample Code

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

void main(void)
  {
     char ch;

     while(!kbhit())
        {
          printf("Want to end this loop?  (y/n)  \n");
          if((ch = getche()) == 'y')
             {
                printf("out of loop\n");
                goto mybug;
             }
          printf("More loop processing here....\n");
          mybug:   /* This line generates the syntax error      */ 
        }          /*       replace with: mybug:  ;             */ 
  } 

Additional query words: 8.00 8.00c 9.00

Keywords          : kbcode kberrmsg kbCompiler kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC400 kbVC500 
Version           : MS-DOS:6.0,6.00a,6.00ax,7.0; OS/2:6.0,6.00a; WINDOWS:1.0,1.5; WINDOWS NT:1.0,2.0,4.0,5.0
Platform          : MS-DOS NT OS/2 WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo 

Last Reviewed: July 5, 1999