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Code Coverage for Understanding How Well Your Tests Exercise the Codebase

Code coverage is a metric that indicates which parts of an application’s source code are executed when tests run. It provides teams with visibility into tested and untested areas, helping them assess the reach of their test suite.

By reviewing code coverage reports, teams can identify gaps in testing, particularly in critical logic paths or error-handling scenarios. This insight supports better test planning and helps reduce the risk of defects slipping into production.

Code coverage is most effective when used as a guiding signal rather than a strict goal. High coverage numbers do not automatically translate to high-quality tests, and focusing only on percentages can lead to shallow validation.

When combined with meaningful assertions and risk-based testing, code coverage helps teams strengthen test effectiveness, improve maintainability, and build greater confidence in software releases.