What does Code Coverage measure in software testing?

Code coverage is a software testing metric that assesses how much of the codebase is tested through automated tests. Specifically, it measures the proportion of the code that is executed during testing, indicating which parts of the codebase are exercised by the tests. A higher code coverage percentage implies that more of the code is being validated by the tests, which can lead to greater confidence in the software's quality.

This metric often helps to identify untested parts of the application, guiding developers and testers to areas that may need more attention to ensure comprehensive test coverage. It is particularly valuable in unit testing, integration testing, and other automated testing practices, allowing teams to understand the effectiveness of their testing efforts.