code review
A systematic peer examination of source code changes before they are merged, aimed at identifying bugs, enforcing standards, and sharing knowledge.
Full Definition
A code review is a quality-assurance practice in which one or more developers examine a colleague's proposed code changes—typically submitted as a pull request or merge request—to identify defects, verify adherence to coding standards, and ensure architectural alignment. In documentation, 'code review' is two words, unhyphenated as a noun phrase; it becomes 'code-review' (hyphenated) when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'the code-review process'). Editors should not conflate code review with automated testing, linting, or pair programming.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, no hyphen as a noun: 'code review'. Hyphenate as a modifier: 'code-review checklist'. Do not italicise or quote-mark in standard prose.
In Context
- "No branch may be merged without at least two approvals from the code review process." — Engineering contribution guide
- "The style guide required 'code-review guidelines' (hyphenated modifier) rather than 'code review guidelines'." — Style guide annotation