dead code

dead code

[′ded ′kōd] (computer science) Statements in a computer program that are not executed, usually as the result of modification of a large program.

dead code

(programming)(Or "infeasible path", "grunge") Any part of aprogram that can never be accessed because all calls to ithave been removed, or because it is guarded by a controlstructure that provably must always transfer control somewhereelse. The presence of dead code may reveal either logicalerrors due to alterations in the program or significantchanges in the assumptions and environment of the program (seealso software rot); a good compiler should report dead codeso a maintainer can think about what it means. Sometimes itsimply means that an *extremely* defensive programmer hasinserted can't happen tests which really can't happen - yet.

Synonym grunge.