SQLite uses unstructured goto for performance in 200-opcode VM

blaizedsouza · x · 2026-08-20

Every SQLite query compiles to bytecode executed by a virtual machine. The interpreter runs instructions through a massive switch with nearly 200 opcode cases. Interestingly, SQLite uses unstructured goto to jump into shared execution paths. While the source code admits it "does not look clean," this design choice is made specifically for performance reasons.

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