Dead code refers to segments of code that are never executed, which can clutter your codebase. This includes obvious cases like commented-out code and less apparent ones such as code within unreachable conditions. The main issue with dead code is that it can easily become outdated, leading to confusion and complicating maintenance. Despite these challenges associated with [[Loss aversion]], removing dead code is essential. Version control systems ensure you won’t permanently lose any code during the cleanup process. Experts like Beck and Martin recommend deleting dead code to maintain a clean and efficient codebase ([Beck, 2024]; [Martin, 2008]).