CodeRabbit functions through Git provider webhooks installed on GitHub or GitLab repositories. When a developer opens or updates a pull request, CodeRabbit triggers a background analysis pipeline that parses the full git diff alongside referenced code context. It evaluates code structure, logic flow, test coverage, and documentation consistency against industry standards and custom configuration files (.coderabbit.yaml).
Once analysis is complete, CodeRabbit posts an initial high-level overview detailing the scope of changes, followed by inline comments on specific lines where potential regressions, edge cases, or performance bottlenecks are identified. Developers can reply to any CodeRabbit comment in GitHub to request revisions or generate 1-click commit suggestions, after which CodeRabbit automatically resolves or updates comments as new commits are pushed.