What is the purpose of code coverage in testing?

The purpose of code coverage in testing is to determine the quality of the code that you want to test. Code coverage metrics provide insight into which parts of your codebase have been exercised by tests and which segments remain untested. By assessing code coverage, development teams can identify areas of the code that may be vulnerable to bugs or may not function as intended due to a lack of sufficient test scenarios. High code coverage often indicates that a significant portion of the code is likely to be reliable, as it has undergone rigorous testing. This focus on test thoroughness helps ensure that the application is robust and meets quality standards.

The other choices, while related to aspects of software quality and performance, do not align with the specific role of code coverage in testing. For instance, identifying code efficiency pertains more to performance analysis rather than testing coverage. Verifying user permissions is typically a part of security testing rather than overall code testing. Evaluating performance metrics focuses on how well the application runs under various conditions, which is different from analyzing whether the code has been adequately tested.