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cognitive complexity

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G. Ann Campbell

Community Manager

15 min read

Cognitive Complexity guide by Ann Campbell

overview

This paper describes Cognitive Complexity, a Sonar exclusive metric formulated to more accurately measure the relative understandability of methods. 


Cognitive Complexity breaks from using mathematical models to assess software maintainability by combining Cyclomatic Complexity precedents with human assessment. It yields method complexity scores that align well with how developers perceive maintainability.