Linter

Linter

Noun · /ˈlɪntər/

Definition

A static analysis tool that inspects source code for programmatic and stylistic errors, flagging issues before the code is executed or compiled.

Origin

From "lint" — tiny fibres that clog machinery. Stephen C. Johnson coined the term at Bell Labs in 1978 for his Unix C-checker, by analogy: small code defects that quietly accumulate and cause problems.