GOBACK statement

Remarks#

The COBOL GOBACK statement is a return. Unlike EXIT PROGRAM, or STOP RUN, GOBACK always returns one level. If the current module is “main”, GOBACK will return to the operating system. If the current module is a subprogram, GOBACK will return to the statement after a call.

GOBACK

identification division.
program-id. subprog.
procedure division.
display "in subprog"
goback.

...

call "subprog"
goback.

The first GOBACK above will return from subprog. Assuming the second is inside the main procedure, GOBACK will return to the operating system.