Control Flow Graph
A control flow graph is a mathematical representation of all paths that might be traversed through a program during its execution. Each node in the graph represents a basic block of code, while directed edges represent the paths of control transfer, such as jumps or conditional branches.
For smart contract developers, these graphs are crucial for visualizing complex logic and identifying unreachable code or potential execution loops. By analyzing these paths, security tools can determine if specific inputs could lead to unintended states or critical vulnerabilities.
It serves as the underlying map for static analysis frameworks to trace how data and control interact within a contract. This visualization is vital for debugging and optimizing the gas efficiency of complex financial protocols.