INFO: Using Goto Label Before Closing Brace Causes C2143 Error

• The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with: - 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, versions 1.0, 1.5 - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, 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:  ;             */
     }