Control Flow Graph
A Control Flow Graph (CFG) is a graphical representation of all possible paths that a program can take during its execution, used in compiler design and static program analysis. It consists of nodes representing basic blocks of code and edges representing control flow between these blocks, such as jumps, branches, and loops. CFGs help in analyzing program behavior, optimizing code, and detecting vulnerabilities by visualizing execution flows.
Developers should learn CFGs when working on compiler development, code optimization, or security analysis, as they provide a structured way to understand and manipulate program logic. They are essential for tasks like dead code elimination, loop optimization, and identifying unreachable code paths in software engineering and cybersecurity contexts.