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Debugging

Definition

Debugging refers to the process of identifying and resolving errors or bugs in a computer program. It involves finding and fixing issues that prevent the program from running correctly or producing the expected output.

Analogy

Think of debugging as being like a detective solving a mystery. The detective carefully examines clues, gathers evidence, and follows leads to identify and fix the problem. Similarly, when debugging, programmers investigate the program's behavior, analyze error messages, and trace through code to find and resolve issues.

Related terms

Breakpoints: These are specific points in the code where programmers can pause execution during debugging to inspect variables, step through lines of code, or evaluate expressions.

Stack Trace: A stack trace is a report that shows the sequence of function calls leading up to an error or exception. It helps identify where in the codebase an issue occurred.

Watch Variables: Programmers can set watch variables during debugging to monitor their values as the program executes. This allows for tracking changes and understanding how they affect program behavior.