Spaghetti code is a term used in software engineering to describe source code that lacks clear structure and organization, often resulting in a tangled, confusing, or overly complex program flow. Spaghetti code typically arises when projects evolve without careful planning or adherence to coding standards, leading to a codebase where logic paths are interwoven and difficult to follow or modify. This pattern makes debugging, testing, and maintenance more challenging and increases the risk of introducing new errors during development. The phrase originated in the 1970s and remains common in discussions about technical debt and best practices. While spaghetti code can appear in any programming language or environment, it is especially problematic in large or long-running projects, where the accumulation of ad-hoc fixes and inconsistent design patterns hinders future development. The presence of spaghetti code is often cited as a motivation for code refactoring or system redesign.

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• #programming-lexicon