---
name: "Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitLabelsWithSpecialBlockNames"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-perl-critic"
version: "1.156-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitLabelsWithSpecialBlockNames"
---

# Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitLabelsWithSpecialBlockNames(3pm)

Don't use labels that are the same as the special block names.

## NAME

Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitLabelsWithSpecialBlockNames - Don't use labels that are the same as the special block names.

## AFFILIATION

This Policy is part of the core Perl::Critic distribution.

## DESCRIPTION

When using one of the special Perl blocks `"BEGIN"`, `"END"`, `"CHECK"`, `"INIT"`, and `"UNITCHECK"`, it is easy to mistakenly add a colon to the end of the block name.  E.g.:

```
    # a BEGIN block that gets executed at compile time.
    BEGIN { <...code...> }
    # an ordinary labeled block that gets executed at run time.
    BEGIN: { <...code...> }
```

The labels "BEGIN:", "END:", etc. are probably errors.  This policy prohibits the special Perl block names from being used as labels.

## CONFIGURATION

This Policy is not configurable except for the standard options.

## SEE ALSO

The Perl Buzz article on this issue at \<http://perlbuzz.com/2008/05/colons-invalidate-your-begin-and-end-blocks.html\>.

## ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Randy Lauen for identifying the problem.

## AUTHOR

Mike O'Regan

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2008-2011 Mike O'Regan.  All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.