1. What Is Cyclomatic Complexity?

Cyclomatic Complexity is a software metric used to measure the complexity of a program. It quantifies the number of linearly independent paths through a program's source code.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Cyclomatic Complexity formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Cyclomatic complexity
• \( E \) — Number of edges in the control flow graph
• \( N \) — Number of nodes in the control flow graph

Explanation: The formula calculates the number of independent paths through a program by analyzing its control flow graph.

3. Importance of Cyclomatic Complexity

Details: Cyclomatic Complexity helps in determining the maintainability and testability of code. Lower values indicate simpler, more maintainable code.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of edges and nodes from your program's control flow graph. Both values must be non-negative integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good Cyclomatic Complexity value?
A: Generally, 1-10 is simple, 11-20 is moderate, 21-50 is complex, and >50 is untestable code.

Q2: How can I reduce Cyclomatic Complexity?
A: By simplifying conditional logic, breaking complex methods into smaller ones, and avoiding nested conditionals.

Q3: What tools can calculate Cyclomatic Complexity?
A: Many static code analysis tools like SonarQube, PMD, and Checkstyle can automatically calculate it.

Q4: Is Cyclomatic Complexity language-dependent?
A: No, it can be applied to any programming language as it's based on the control flow graph.

Q5: What are the limitations of this metric?
A: It doesn't account for code readability, data complexity, or the cognitive complexity that developers face.