Limit Cyclomatic Complexity (complexity)

Cyclomatic complexity measures the number of linearly independent paths through a program's source code. This rule allows setting a cyclomatic complexity threshold.

function a(x) {
    if (true) {
        return x; // 1st path
    } else if (false) {
        return x+1; // 2nd path
    } else {
        return 4; // 3rd path
    }
}

Rule Details

This rule is aimed at reducing code complexity by capping the amount of cyclomatic complexity allowed in a program. As such, it will warn when the cyclomatic complexity crosses the configured threshold (default is 20).

Examples of incorrect code for a maximum of 2:

/*eslint complexity: ["error", 2]*/

function a(x) {
    if (true) {
        return x;
    } else if (false) {
        return x+1;
    } else {
        return 4; // 3rd path
    }
}

function b() {
    foo ||= 1;
    bar &&= 1;
}

Examples of correct code for a maximum of 2:

/*eslint complexity: ["error", 2]*/

function a(x) {
    if (true) {
        return x;
    } else {
        return 4;
    }
}

function b() {
    foo ||= 1;
}

Class field initializers are implicit functions. Therefore, their complexity is calculated separately for each initializer, and it doesn't contribute to the complexity of the enclosing code.

Examples of additional incorrect code for a maximum of 2:

/*eslint complexity: ["error", 2]*/

class C {
    x = a || b || c; // this initializer has complexity = 3
}

Examples of additional correct code for a maximum of 2:

/*eslint complexity: ["error", 2]*/

function foo() { // this function has complexity = 1
    class C {
        x = a + b; // this initializer has complexity = 1
        y = c || d; // this initializer has complexity = 2
        z = e && f; // this initializer has complexity = 2

        static p = g || h; // this initializer has complexity = 2
        static q = i ? j : k; // this initializer has complexity = 2
    }
}

Options

Optionally, you may specify a max object property:

"complexity": ["error", 2]

is equivalent to

"complexity": ["error", { "max": 2 }]

Deprecated: the object property maximum is deprecated. Please use the property max instead.

When Not To Use It

If you can't determine an appropriate complexity limit for your code, then it's best to disable this rule.

Further Reading

• Cyclomatic Complexity
• Complexity Analysis of JavaScript Code
• More about Complexity in JavaScript
• About Complexity
• Discussion about Complexity in ESLint and more links

Related Rules

• max-depth
• max-len
• max-lines
• max-lines-per-function
• max-nested-callbacks
• max-params
• max-statements

Version

This rule was introduced in ESLint 0.0.9.

Resources

• Rule source
• Documentation source