ABSTRACT

This method is not reachable from any method outside the class.

EXPLANATION

This method is never called or is only called from other dead code.

Example 1: In the following class, the method doWork() can never be called.


public class Dead {
private void doWork() {
System.out.println("doing work");
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("running Dead");
}
}


Example 2: In the following class, two private methods call each other, but since neither one is ever invoked from anywhere else, they are both dead code.


public class DoubleDead {
private void doTweedledee() {
doTweedledumb();
}
private void doTweedledumb() {
doTweedledee();
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("running DoubleDead");
}
}


(In this case it is a good thing that the methods are dead: invoking either one would cause an infinite loop.)

REFERENCES

[1] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3 - (STIG 3) APP3050 CAT II

[2] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration - (CWE) CWE ID 561