How to calculate LOC (Lines of Code) coverage for C# application?

Lines of Code (LOC) coverage is a critical metric in software development that assesses the extent to which a codebase is executed by a test suite, with a higher percentage indicating more comprehensive testing and increased confidence in the software's reliability. This metric, especially important in C# applications, helps software teams identify untested code, reduce the risk of bugs, and improve quality assurance by ensuring that most code parts are verified. Various tools like Visual Studio Code Coverage, OpenCover, dotCover, Coverlet, and SonarQube are available to measure LOC coverage, each offering unique features and integrations with testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines. Achieving high LOC coverage aids in early bug detection, regression testing, improved maintainability, and cost savings by catching defects earlier in the development lifecycle. However, it is crucial to understand that high code coverage does not guarantee software quality, as it only indicates the execution of code lines, not the comprehensive testing of their functionality. To enhance LOC coverage, strategies like writing more unit tests, testing edge cases, using mocks, and integrating coverage tools into CI processes are recommended, fostering a culture of meaningful testing and collaboration within development teams.