# Dead Code
## Overview
Code that is no longer used or reachable and could be safely removed
## Symptoms
- Unreachable code after a return or throw
- Variables, methods, or classes that are never referenced
- Commented-out code left in the codebase
## Why It Matters
Dispensable smells point to code that is unnecessary and whose removal would make the codebase cleaner and easier to understand. As a **Dispensable**, this smell adds noise, cognitive overhead, and maintenance burden without providing corresponding value.
Specifically, it violates the **DRY principle** (Don't Repeat Yourself), promoting unnecessary duplication and divergence.
## How to Fix
- **Inline Method** (`RF-003`)
## Connections
**Violates:** Dry (`LAW-040`)
**Resolved by refactoring:** Inline Method (`RF-003`)
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*Based on: Refactoring (Fowler, 1999)*