In Python, comments are crucial for explaining code logic and improving readability. They are ignored by the interpreter and are solely for human readers.
Single-line Comments
Single-line comments start with the # symbol and extend until the end of the line:
# This is a single-line comment
name = "Alice" # Variable assignment
Multi-line Comments
Python does not have a dedicated syntax for multi-line comments. Instead, multi-line strings (docstrings) are often used:
"""
This is a multi-line comment using docstring.
It can span multiple lines and is enclosed within triple quotes.
This style is typically used for documenting functions, classes, or modules.
"""
def greet(name):
"""
This function greets the user with a personalized message.
:param name: The name of the person to greet
"""
print("Hello, " + name + "!")
Commenting Best Practices
- Clarity: Use comments to clarify complex or non-obvious parts of your code.
- Documentation: For longer explanations, use docstrings for functions, classes, or modules.
- Avoid Over-commenting: Code should be as self-explanatory as possible; use comments sparingly and where necessary.
