---
title: avoid unreachable code
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Static Code Analysis (SAST) > SAST
  Rules > avoid unreachable code
---

# avoid unreachable code

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## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**ID:** `python-best-practices/unreachable-code`

**Language:** Python

**Severity:** Notice

**Category:** Best Practices

## Description{% #description %}

Avoid unreachable code. If the code cannot be reached because of a coding mistake, fix the business logic. If the code should not be used, remove it.

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [Carnegie Mellon University: Avoid having unreachable code](https://wiki.sei.cmu.edu/confluence/display/android/Avoid+having+unreachable+code)

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```python
def foo():
  return 3
  foo()  # unreachable code
  pass  # unreachable code
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```python
def foo():
	foo()
	pass
	return 3
```
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