ENGLISH
REFERENCE

code coverage

compound.
C1 Advanced Programming
Definition

compound. a measurement that shows how much of a computer program's code is actually tested by automated checks. It helps programmers see which parts of their work might still have hidden mistakes.

compound. a metric used in software testing to measure the proportion of source code executed during the running of a test suite. It identifies areas of the codebase that have not been validated by automated tests.


SIMPLE

The team wants to reach eighty percent code coverage before the launch.

CONTEXTUAL

After running the new tests, the developer noticed that the code coverage for the payment module had increased significantly.

COMPLEX

While high code coverage is a useful indicator of testing thoroughness, it does not guarantee the absence of bugs or the logical correctness of the underlying software architecture.

Origin

A compound formed from the noun code, denoting the symbolic instructions of a program, and the noun coverage, in its sense of the extent to which something is dealt with or included.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Usage

Often used with verbs like 'achieve', 'increase', or 'improve'.

Pitfall

the code coverages are lowthe code coverage is lowCode coverage is an uncountable noun when referring to the metric or measurement.

Related words

Last updated July 22, 2026