# The Importance of Code Freeze Before an External Security Review Implementing a code freeze before an external security review is a critical step in the development of smart contracts, as it ensures that the codebase remains stable and unchanged during the audit process. This practice prevents new vulnerabilities from being introduced after the review begins, maintaining the integrity of the assessment. For smart contracts, where security flaws can lead to irreversible financial losses, a code freeze helps auditors focus on a fixed and well-understood codebase. It also eliminates the risk of miscommunication or oversight that might occur if changes are made during the audit. By freezing the code, teams provide external reviewers with the assurance that their findings will remain relevant and actionable, ultimately leading to a more thorough and reliable security evaluation. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.optimumsec.xyz/pre-deployment/importance-of-code-freeze-before-an-external-review.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.