What is Code Review? - Explanation & Meaning

Definition

Code review is the systematic examination of source code by one or more team members who did not write the code. The goal is to improve code quality, find bugs, share knowledge, and ensure consistent development standards.

Technical explanation

Code reviews typically take place via pull requests (PR) or merge requests on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Azure DevOps. An effective review assesses multiple aspects: correctness (does the code do what it should), readability (is the code understandable), architecture (does it fit the larger design), performance (are there bottlenecks), security (are there vulnerabilities), and test coverage (are there sufficient tests). Automated tools form the first line of defense: linters check style, SAST tools detect security vulnerabilities, and CI pipelines verify tests pass. AI-powered review tools analyze code for patterns and suggest improvements. Best practices include small, focused PRs (maximum 400 lines), constructive feedback, fast turnaround times, and a culture where feedback is seen as an investment in quality. Pair programming is a real-time alternative to asynchronous code review. Branch protection rules can require reviews before code is merged.

How MG Software applies this

At MG Software, code reviews are mandatory for every change going to production. Our PRs are assessed for correctness, readability, security, and test coverage. We maintain a constructive review culture where feedback is directed at the code, not the person. Automated checks in our CI/CD pipeline form the first assessment, after which team members review logic and architecture.

Practical examples

• A team member discovering a potential race condition in an asynchronous function during code review that would have led to intermittent production issues without review.
• A junior developer who learns team standards within three months through constructive feedback in code reviews and writes significantly better code.
• A team setting up branch protection rules that require at minimum two approvals and a successful CI pipeline before code can be merged to the main branch.

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