Goto is a programming statement used to transfer control to a different part of a program. It allows the program to jump to a specified label, which can be useful for creating loops or skipping sections of code. However, excessive use of goto can lead to complex and hard-to-read code, often referred to as "spaghetti code." Introduced in early programming languages like FORTRAN and C, goto has become less popular in modern programming practices. Many developers prefer structured programming techniques, such as loops and functions, which promote clearer and more maintainable code.