# Introduction

The language analyzers calculate the different code metrics that will be used to evaluate the code quality:

* Code metrics are used in [Overview](/sonarqube-server/10.8/user-guide/rules/overview.md) to raise issues, for example, when a certain level of complexity is reached for a function in the code.
* Code metrics are used in the [Quality gates](/sonarqube-server/10.8/instance-administration/analysis-functions/quality-gates.md) definition. For example, you can set a condition on the total number of raised issues in the code.
* The mode of your SonarQube Server instance, either [MQR mode](/sonarqube-server/10.8/instance-administration/analysis-functions/instance-mode/mqr-mode.md) or [Standard Experience](/sonarqube-server/10.8/instance-administration/analysis-functions/instance-mode/standard-experience.md), will determine which code metrics you see in the UI.

You can use different tools in the SonarQube Server UI to monitor and compare your project or portfolio’s code metrics.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you’re using an external monitoring system, you can retrieve the metric values through the [Web API](/sonarqube-server/10.8/extension-guide/web-api.md).
{% endhint %}

## Related pages <a href="#related-pages" id="related-pages"></a>

* [Understanding measures and metrics](/sonarqube-server/10.8/user-guide/code-metrics/metrics-definition.md)
* [Monitoring project metrics](/sonarqube-server/10.8/user-guide/code-metrics/monitoring-project-metrics.md)
* [Monitoring portfolio metrics](/sonarqube-server/10.8/user-guide/code-metrics/monitoring-portfolio-metrics.md)
* [Code metrics](/sonarqube-server/10.8/instance-administration/analysis-functions/metrics-parameters.md)


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