Code Review Prompt: Senior-Level Feedback

This code review prompt audits code for bugs, security, and performance with severity ratings. Paste the code, specify the language, run anywhere.

The prompt

Role:
Act as a staff engineer performing a thorough code review.

Context:
Language: [LANGUAGE]. Code under review: [CODE]. Review focus: [REVIEW_FOCUS] (e.g., security, performance, readability, or all).

Task:
1. Review the code for correctness bugs, security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and readability problems.
2. Report each issue with severity (critical/major/minor), location, explanation, and a concrete suggested fix.
3. List what the code does well (2-3 points) — reviews need signal, not just criticism.
4. Give an overall verdict: approve, approve with changes, or request changes.
5. Suggest the single highest-leverage improvement if only one change were allowed.

Format:
- Summary verdict
- Issues table: Severity | Location | Issue | Suggested fix
- Strengths (2-3 bullets)
- Verdict with one-paragraph rationale
- Highest-leverage improvement

Constraints:
- No nitpicks about personal style unless they violate the language's standard style guide.
- Every critical issue must include a minimal exploit or failure scenario.
- Do not rewrite the entire file; suggest targeted diffs.
- Prioritize issues by real-world impact, not theoretical purity.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[LANGUAGE] [CODE] [REVIEW_FOCUS]

Example input

LANGUAGE: JavaScript (Node 22); CODE: app.post('/login', (req, res) => { const q = `SELECT * FROM users WHERE email='${req.body.email}'`; ... }); REVIEW_FOCUS: security and correctness

How to use this prompt

Copy the prompt. Paste the code diff or function under review. Run in any AI tool, then address critical issues before merging.

Tips for the best results

Tip: Review diffs under 400 lines — large diffs get shallow reviews from humans and AI alike.
Tip: Set REVIEW_FOCUS per review; a security pass and a readability pass find different issues.
Tip: Feed the AI the project's style guide for consistent, enforceable feedback.