Foreign-Radish1641 and other community members analyze whether using goto in loops can be clearer than traditional while constructs in C#, sharing practical scenarios, examples, and advice.

Is `goto` Ever Cleaner than `while` in C# Loops?

Author: Foreign-Radish1641

The Debate: `goto` vs `while` in Repetitive Actions

This community thread examines whether using a goto statement is ever preferable or clearer than a traditional while loop in C#. The discussion is rooted in practical code samples and draws on years of development experience.

Standard Loop Example

The typical way to request input until a valid action is chosen:

while (true) {
    Console.WriteLine("choose an action (attack, wait, run):");
    string input = Console.ReadLine();
    if (input is "attack" or "wait" or "run") {
        break;
    }
}

More Complex Version (Multiple Branches)

while (true) {
    Console.WriteLine("choose an action (attack, wait, run):");
    string input = Console.ReadLine();

    if (input is "attack") {
        Console.WriteLine("you attack");
        break;
    } else if (input is "wait") {
        Console.WriteLine("nothing happened");
    } else if (input is "run") {
        Console.WriteLine("you run");
        break;
    }
}

Alternative with `goto`

ChooseAction:
Console.WriteLine("choose an action (attack, wait, run):");
string input = Console.ReadLine();

if (input is "attack") {
    Console.WriteLine("you attack");
} else if (input is "wait") {
    Console.WriteLine("nothing happened");
    goto ChooseAction;
} else if (input is "run") {
    Console.WriteLine("you run");
}

The argument is that goto can sometimes make loops “explicit” and potentially more readable when the flow is simple.

Community Opinions

Stick to while loops: Most developers advise sticking with established looping constructs like while, citing that they’re what most readers expect and are easier to reason about, especially in teams.
goto has rare use cases: Only use goto to break out of complex, deeply nested logic where restructuring would otherwise greatly complicate the code. Even then, alternatives like extracting code into a function (and using return) are preferred.
- Example: “Even then, I think I’ve only had to do that once in 22 years of using C#.”
Readability beats “cleanness”: The term “cleaner” is vague—what matters more is readability and maintainability. Indentation and structured blocks let you quickly see scope and control flow.
Alternatives to goto: Using continue, introducing clearer loop conditions, or code refactoring to use functions/methods to manage control flow are nearly always better choices.
Compiler Details: Internally, even while (true) can compile down to similar jump instructions, so performance isn’t a deciding factor—it’s all about source code clarity.
Comic Reference: xkcd 292 is humorously cited regarding dangerous use of goto.
Summary: Use goto as a last resort. For almost all everyday repetitive input scenarios, while or for loops are the right, most maintainable choice.

Example: Clean Pattern for User Input

string input = "";
while (input is not "attack" or "run") {
    Console.WriteLine("choose an action (attack, wait, run):");
    input = Console.ReadLine();

    if (input is "attack") {
        Console.WriteLine("you attack");
    } else if (input is "wait") {
        Console.WriteLine("nothing happened");
    } else if (input is "run") {
        Console.WriteLine("you run");
    }
}

Key Lessons

Use standard loop constructs for clarity and maintainability.
Resort to goto only in rare, justified cases (deeply nested error handling, legacy interop, etc.).
Prefer refactoring code and leveraging functions for managing flow.
Optimize for team understanding and code review friendliness.

This post appeared first on “Reddit CSharp”. Read the entire article here

Is goto Ever Cleaner than while in C# Loops?

The Debate: goto vs while in Repetitive Actions