Label (computer science)

In programming languages, a label is a sequence of characters that identifies a location within source code. In most languages, labels take the form of an identifier, often followed by a punctuation character (e.g., a colon). In many high-level languages, the purpose of a label is to act as the destination of a GOTO statement.[1][2] In assembly language, labels can be used anywhere an address can (for example, as the operand of a JMP or MOV instruction).[3] Also in Pascal and its derived variations. Some languages, such as Fortran and BASIC, support numeric labels.[4] Labels are also used to identify an entry point into a compiled sequence of statements (e.g., during debugging).

  1. ^ "C Standard section 6.8.6.1 The goto statement". Archived from the original on 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  2. ^ "GOTO Statement QuickSCREEN". Microsoft. 1988. Archived from the original on 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  3. ^ O. Lawlor. "nasm x86 Assembly". Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  4. ^ "Differences Between GW-BASIC and QBasic". Archived from the original on 2010-02-10.