# go vet — Go (Golang)

Source: https://www.skillbyai.com/en/go/q-vet

> Catch suspicious code the compiler accepts.

## Static checks for common mistakes

`go vet` reports code that compiles but is probably wrong: Printf verbs that do not match their arguments, unreachable code, copying locks, misuse of struct tags, suspicious shifts, and more. `go test` runs a subset of vet checks automatically. Linters such as staticcheck and golangci-lint add many more checks; run them in CI.

## A format-verb mistake caught by vet, run

I ran this with Go 1.27.1 (`go vet . 2>&1` in a module named demo, standard library only). Printf with %d for a string compiles, but vet reports the wrong argument type with its file and line.

```go
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
	name := "Asha"
	fmt.Printf("hello %d\n", name) // wrong verb for a string
	var unused = 1
	_ = unused
}
```

Output:

```
main.go:7:20: fmt.Printf format %d has arg name of wrong type string
```

## Add staticcheck

staticcheck finds deprecated APIs, unused results and subtle bugs beyond vet; most teams run it via golangci-lint.

**Quiz:** What does go vet report?

- [ ] Dependency updates
- [ ] Only syntax errors
- [ ] Performance benchmarks
- [x] Code that compiles but is likely a bug

*Answer:* Code that compiles but is likely a bug. Static analysis for common mistakes.