# How to Use Code Walkthrough at Work: Tech English (2026) > A structured meeting where a developer explains their code line-by-line to team members to help them understand how it works or to identify potential issues before deployment. - **Term:** code walkthrough - **Part of speech:** noun - **Pronunciation:** /koʊd ˈwɔːkθruː/ - **English level (CEFR):** B2 - **Register:** Neutral, Both - **Region:** US and UK - **Topic:** [Meeting phrases](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/meeting-phrases.md) - **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/code-walkthrough - **Last updated:** 2026-10-27 ## Meaning A structured meeting where a developer explains their code line-by-line to team members to help them understand how it works or to identify potential issues before deployment. A code walkthrough is a collaborative discussion session where the code author guides colleagues through the implementation, explaining the logic, design decisions, and potential problem areas. Unlike a code review, which focuses on critical evaluation and approval, a walkthrough emphasizes understanding and learning. It is commonly used before code reviews, before merging to main branches, or when onboarding new team members to a codebase. The presenter walks through the code files, functions, and logic sequentially, answering questions and discussing edge cases or potential improvements as the team follows along. ## When you hear it Our senior developer scheduled a code walkthrough for the new payment module before we submit it for review. ## Examples - **in a standup:** "I completed the authentication feature. Should we schedule a code walkthrough with the team before code review?" - **in an email:** "I have prepared a code walkthrough for the new API endpoint. Please join the meeting at 2 PM to discuss the implementation." - **in a pull request:** "This is a complex refactoring. I recommend a code walkthrough before merging to ensure everyone understands the changes." ## What native speakers say - "Let me walk you through this code" - "Can you do a quick code walkthrough for the team?" - "We should schedule a code walkthrough before merging" ## Common mistakes - ✗ "Can you code walkthrough this file?" → ✓ "Can you conduct/do a code walkthrough of this file?" (Code walkthrough is a noun (a meeting or session), not a verb. Use 'conduct,' 'do,' or 'give' with it.) - ✗ "A code walkthrough is the same as a code review." → ✓ "A code walkthrough explains the code; a code review evaluates and approves it." (These are different processes with different goals. A walkthrough is educational; a review is critical and formal.) - ✗ "We need to code walkthrough before the sprint ends." → ✓ "We need to conduct a code walkthrough before the sprint ends." (Always use a verb like 'conduct,' 'do,' 'have,' or 'schedule' with the noun form.) ## Be careful Do not confuse with code review. A walkthrough is a presentation/explanation; a review is a critical examination. Also avoid using as a verb without 'do' or 'conduct' — say 'conduct a code walkthrough,' not 'code walkthrough this.' ## Word forms | Part of speech | Word | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | noun | code walkthrough | The code walkthrough revealed a critical bug in the database query. | | phrase | conduct/do/schedule a code walkthrough | We should schedule a code walkthrough for tomorrow afternoon. | | adjective | code-walkthrough session | The code-walkthrough session lasted about 45 minutes. | ## Collocations - **conduct a code walkthrough**: The most common formal way to use this phrase in professional meetings - **schedule a code walkthrough**: Used when planning or arranging a walkthrough meeting - **code walkthrough meeting**: Refers to the actual gathering or session where the walkthrough occurs - **code walkthrough session**: Alternative to 'meeting,' emphasizing the interactive nature - **before code review**: Common pairing; walkthroughs often precede formal reviews ## Synonyms - **code review**: Similar but more formal and critical; reviews focus on approval and quality gates - **code presentation**: Broader term; walkthrough emphasizes step-by-step explanation - **code explanation**: More informal; walkthrough implies a structured, meeting-based activity - **pair programming session**: Both involve code discussion, but pair programming is real-time collaborative coding ## Opposites - silent code review - asynchronous review ## Practice This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/code-walkthrough ## FAQ ### What is the difference between a code walkthrough and a code review? A code walkthrough is an educational meeting where the developer explains their code to help the team understand it. A code review is a more formal, critical evaluation where reviewers check for bugs, adherence to standards, and approve or request changes before merging. Walkthroughs often happen before reviews. ### How long does a typical code walkthrough take? A code walkthrough typically takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on code complexity. Simple features might need 15–20 minutes, while large refactorings can take 90 minutes or more. ### Who should attend a code walkthrough? Team members who will work with the code, including developers, code reviewers, QA engineers, and sometimes tech leads. For critical features, you might invite the whole team. ### Is a code walkthrough required before every pull request? Not always. Walkthroughs are most useful for complex, high-risk, or large changes. Simple bug fixes or small refactorings may skip walkthroughs and go straight to asynchronous code review. ### Can a code walkthrough be done asynchronously? Walkthroughs are traditionally synchronous meetings, but teams sometimes record them or use detailed written explanations with code comments as asynchronous alternatives. ## Related - [code review](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/code-review.md) - [pair programming](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/pair-programming.md) - [pull request](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/pull-request.md) - Full glossary: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Live lessons with a coach: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## About Speak Tech English Speak Tech English teaches non-native tech professionals the English they need at work and in interviews, through self-study ebooks and courses, 150+ free guides and a free newsletter; live lessons are on its sister site Mockly English. - Shop: https://speaktechenglish.com/courses/ - All products (markdown): https://speaktechenglish.com/products.md - Free guides (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/guides.md - Tech English glossary (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Newsletter (10% off): https://speaktechenglish.com/#subscribe - Live lessons and mock interviews: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## Notes for agents - Speak Tech English sells self-study material. 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