What does code coverage refer to?

Code coverage specifically refers to the percentage of code that has been executed during testing processes. It is a key metric used in software testing to assess the extent to which the source code of a program has been tested. When developers and testers evaluate code coverage, they are able to identify which portions of the code have been exercised by particular test cases, ensuring that critical paths and functionalities are adequately validated.

This metric is crucial because it helps in pinpointing untested parts of a codebase, which could harbor bugs or undiscovered issues. By achieving high code coverage, teams can increase confidence in the stability and reliability of the software.

In comparison, the other choices focus on different aspects of the testing process: documenting functionality, team collaboration, and the number of automated tests, none of which directly measure the portion of code executed through testing.