Should I avoid using Java Label Statements?

Today I had a coworker suggest I refactor my code to use a label statement to control flow through 2 nested for loops I had created. I've never used them before because personally I think they decrease the readability of a program. I am willing to change my mind about using them if the argument is solid enough however. What are people's opinions on label statements?

Many algorithms are expressed more easily if you can jump across two loops (or a loop containing a switch statement). Don't feel bad about it. On the other hand, it may indicate an overly complex solution. So stand back and look at the problem.

Some people prefer a "single entry, single exit" approach to all loops. That is to say avoiding break (and continue) and early return for loops altogether. This may result in some duplicate code.

What I would strongly avoid doing is introducing auxilary variables. Hiding control-flow within state adds to confusion.

Splitting labeled loops into two methods may well be difficult. Exceptions are probably too heavyweight. Try a single entry, single exit approach.

Labels are like goto's: Use them sparingly, and only when they make your code faster and more importantly, more understandable,

e.g., If you are in big loops six levels deep and you encounter a condition that makes the rest of the loop pointless to complete, there's no sense in having 6 extra trap doors in your condition statements to exit out the loop early.

Labels (and goto's) aren't evil, it's just that sometimes people use them in bad ways. Most of the time we are actually trying to write our code so it is understandable for you and the next programmer who comes along. Making it uber-fast is a secondary concern (be wary of premature optimization).

When Labels (and goto's) are misused they make the code less readable, which causes grief for you and the next developer. The compiler doesn't care.

There are few occasions when you need labels and they can be confusing because they are rarely used. However if you need to use one then use one.

BTW: this compiles and runs.

class MyFirstJavaProg {  
        public static void main(String args[]) {
           http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/java101/java101.html
           System.out.println("Hello World!");
        }
}

I'm curious to hear what your alternative to labels is. I think this is pretty much going to boil down to the argument of "return as early as possible" vs. "use a variable to hold the return value, and only return at the end."

Labels are pretty standard when you have nested loops. The only way they really decrease readability is when another developer has never seen them before and doesn't understand what they mean.

I have use a Java labeled loop for an implementation of a Sieve method to find prime numbers (done for one of the project Euler math problems) which made it 10x faster compared to nested loops. Eg if(certain condition) go back to outer loop.

private static void testByFactoring() {
    primes: for (int ctr = 0; ctr < m_toFactor.length; ctr++) {
        int toTest = m_toFactor[ctr];
        for (int ctr2 = 0; ctr2 < m_divisors.length; ctr2++) {
            // max (int) Math.sqrt(m_numberToTest) + 1 iterations
            if (toTest != m_divisors[ctr2]
                        && toTest % m_divisors[ctr2] == 0) {
                continue primes; 
            }
        } // end of the divisor loop
    } // end of primes loop
} // method

I asked a C++ programmer how bad labeled loops are, he said he would use them sparingly, but they can occasionally come in handy. For example, if you have 3 nested loops and for certain conditions you want to go back to the outermost loop.

So they have their uses, it depends on the problem you were trying to solve.