How Does Code Coverage Help Teams Evaluate Test Effectiveness?

Code coverage measures which parts of an application’s code are executed when tests run. It provides visibility into tested and untested areas, helping teams understand how thoroughly their codebase is being validated.

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

Code coverage is most useful when treated as a guiding metric rather than a strict target. High coverage numbers do not automatically guarantee quality, and low coverage does not always indicate poor testing if risk areas are already well covered.

Understanding how code coverage contributes to test effectiveness allows teams to make informed decisions about improving test strategies and overall software quality.