A Guide to Writing Comments in Python

A Guide to Writing Comments in Python

Writing code that works is only half the job — writing code that’s understandable is what makes you a great developer. That’s where comments come in. In Python, comments help you explain your code’s logic, document functionality, and improve long-term readability — especially when deploying scripts on production servers or maintaining backend applications hosted on cloud or VPS platforms.

Whether you’re just learning Python, managing server-side automation on a hosting environment, or building a team project, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about writing effective comments.

What Are Comments in Python?

Comments are lines in your code that the Python interpreter ignores. They exist solely to help humans understand what the code does, why it was written a certain way, or what should be done in the future.

 1. Single-Line Comments

In Python, single-line comments begin with a hash symbol #.

Use single-line comments to explain:

• What a block of code does

• Why a specific value or method is used

• To-do notes for future updates

2. Multi-Line Comments

Python does not have a native multi-line comment syntax like some other languages. The common workaround is to use multiple single-line comments:

# This section handles user input
# and validates email address format
user_email = input("Enter your email: ")

Avoid placing long explanations in one comment line — break them up for clarity.

3. Inline Comments

Inline comments are placed on the same line as a code statement:

✅ Do use inline comments sparingly to clarify specific lines.
❌ Don’t state the obvious:

 4. Docstrings (Documentation Strings)

While not technically comments, docstrings are multi-line strings enclosed in triple quotes (”’ or “””) used to document functions, classes, and modules.

def greet(name):
"""Return a personalized greeting."""
return f"Hello, {name}!"

You can retrieve a function’s docstring using:

Use docstrings for:

• Function descriptions

• Parameter explanations

• Return values

Best Practices for Writing Python Comments

• ✅ Keep them concise and relevant

• ✅ Focus on the why, not the what

• ✅ Use consistent language and style

• ✅ Update comments if the code changes

• ✅ Avoid redundant or outdated comments

 Bad Comment Example:

✅ Good Comment Example:

Comments in Debugging and Testing

You can use comments to temporarily disable code while testing:

Just remember to remove or revise them before final deployment.