{"id":3965,"date":"2026-01-26T13:13:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T16:13:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextage.com.br\/blog\/?p=3965"},"modified":"2026-01-26T13:13:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T16:13:45","slug":"static-application-security-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextage.com.br\/blog\/en\/static-application-security-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever launched a new feature only to discover it had a bug a few hours later? Or worse, a security vulnerability that compromised customer data? The feeling is terrible, and so is the cost. <\/span>NASA<\/span><\/a> research on the use of static analysis tools has shown that finding and fixing defects before release drastically reduces the risks of serious incidents in production.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where static code analysis, or SAST (Static Application Security Testing), comes in. It works like that friend who reviews your text before you send it to the client, except it’s automatic, fast, and focused on security and quality. Let’s understand how this works in practice and why every team should use it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

What is Static Code Analysis?<\/b><\/h2>\n

SAST is a technique that examines your application’s source code without needing to execute it. While you write (or right after), specialized tools scan every line looking for problematic patterns: security vulnerabilities, logic bugs, violations of best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Think about the difference between reviewing a house’s blueprint before building it versus waiting for the house to be finished to discover the structure is compromised. Static analysis is the blueprint review. Dynamic analysis (DAST), on the other hand, tests the running application, simulating real attacks, both are important, each with its own role.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it called “static”? Because the code is still, not running. The tool analyzes the program’s text, its structure and logical flow, without needing to compile or execute anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

How SAST works in practice<\/b><\/h2>\n

Behind the tools’ friendly interface, there’s a technical process:<\/span><\/p>\n