from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
static analysis
<theory, programming> A family of techniques of program
analysis where the program is not actually executed (as
opposed to dynamic analysis), but is analyzed by tools to
produce useful information.
Static analysis techniques range from the most mundane
(statistics on the density of comments, for instance) to the
more complex, {semantics}-based techniques.
Qualities sought in static analysis techniques are {soundness}
and {completeness}.
(2003-04-12)