Why does Java allow for labeled breaks on arbitrary statements?

Question

I just learned today that the following Java code is perfectly legal:

myBlock: {
    /* ... code ... */

    if (doneExecutingThisBlock())
        break myBlock;         


        

Answer 1

Think of it as a return statement that returns from the block instead of from the entire function. The same reasoning you apply to object to break being scattered anywhere can also be applied to return being allowed anywhere except at the end of a function.