Chapter 3 – Static Testing
Code Smell – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
An indication in the source code of a possible deeper problem.
In simple words
A pattern in code (long function, duplicate code, huge class) that suggests a design problem.
Exam tip
Code smells are found by static analysis tools like SonarQube — they aren't defects yet but predict future ones.
Related terms
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