Chapter 3 – Static Testing
Cyclomatic Complexity – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
The number of independent paths through a program.
In simple words
A metric that counts branches in code — higher number means the code is harder to test.
Exam tip
Cyclomatic complexity above 10 is a common warning threshold in static analysis.
Related terms
- Static AnalysisTools scan source code, models or documents to find defects without running the software.
- White-Box TestingYou design tests using knowledge of the code — branches, statements, paths — to hit specific structural coverage targets.
- Code SmellA pattern in code (long function, duplicate code, huge class) that suggests a design problem.
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