goto

Directs cmd.exe to a labeled line in a batch program. Within a batch program, this command directs command processing to a line that is identified by a label. When the label is found, processing continues starting with the commands that begin on the next line.

Syntax

goto <label>

Parameters

Parameter Description
<label> Specifies a text string that is used as a label in the batch program.
/? Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • If command extensions are enabled (the default), and you use the goto command with a target label of :EOF, you transfer control to the end of the current batch script file and exit the batch script file without defining a label. When you use this command with the :EOF label, you must insert a colon before the label. For example: goto:EOF.

  • You can use spaces in the label parameter, but you can't include other separators (for example, semicolons (;) or equal signs (=)).

  • The label value that you specify must match a label in the batch program. The label within the batch program must begin with a colon (:). If a line begins with a colon, it's treated as a label and any commands on that line are ignored. If your batch program doesn't contain the label that you specify in the label parameter, then the batch program stops and displays the following message: Label not found.

  • You can use goto with other commands to perform conditional operations. For more information about using goto for conditional operations, see the if command.

Examples

The following batch program formats a disk in drive A as a system disk. If the operation is successful, the goto command directs processing to the :end label:

echo off
format a: /s
if not errorlevel 1 goto end
echo An error occurred during formatting.
:end
echo End of batch program.