Code complexity refers to how difficult a piece of code is to understand, maintain, and modify. As applications grow, complexity naturally increases due to added features, dependencies, and business logic. When not managed properly, high code complexity can slow down development, introduce bugs, and make even small changes risky.

There are different ways to look at code complexity. Cyclomatic complexity measures the number of possible execution paths in a program, while cognitive complexity focuses on how hard the code is for humans to read and reason about. Deeply nested conditions, long methods, tight coupling, and inconsistent naming are common contributors to complex code.

Why does this matter? Highly complex code is harder to test, debug, and refactor. It increases onboarding time for new developers and raises the chances of regressions when changes are made. Over time, this can impact delivery speed and overall software quality.

Managing code complexity requires conscious effort. Techniques like breaking large functions into smaller ones, following clean coding practices, performing regular code reviews, and refactoring incrementally can make a big difference. Tracking complexity metrics as part of your development process also helps teams spot problem areas early.

In short, keeping code complexity under control isn’t just about cleaner code—it’s about building software that remains stable, adaptable, and easier to evolve as requirements change.

Learn more about code complexity here:
https://keploy.io/blog/community/what-is-code-complexity