using labels in java without "loops"

Question

I always thought that the labels must be used only with loops but it seems not. Giving such code:

public class LabelTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        label1: System.out.println("");
        label2: LabelTest t = new LabelTest();  
    }                                               
}

When compiled line labeled "label1" compiles but the code at "label2" gives errors. Why's that? And why would I want to label statements which are not "loops"?

Answer 1

You get an error because a label cannot be applied to variable declarations, that's just how the language grammar is defined (a label can only precede a Statement, and a LocalVariableDeclarationStatement is not a Statement). The reason is probably that it could cause confusion concerning variable scope. This works:

    label1: System.out.println("");
    label2: { LabelTest t = new LabelTest(); }