Comments in C++: How to Write & Use Them

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Introduction

Comments are an essential part of writing clean and understandable C++ code. They allow programmers to explain what the code is doing, making it easier for others—and even yourself—to read and maintain the program later. Comments are ignored by the compiler, which means they do not affect how the program runs, but they play a crucial role in documentation and clarity. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to create comments in C++, the different types of comments, and why using them properly is important for good programming practices.

Let’s Explore Comments in C++

Today, we going to create comments. Comments are non-executable text that programmers use to add notes and explanations to the code, making it more readable and maintainable. The compiler ignores comments during the compilation process, so they do not affect the program's execution and performance.

In C++, we use two types of comments, those are single line comments and multi-line comments.

In single line comments, we use this "//" at the start of the sentence and that's it, the whole line becomes from those slashes. We use it like this:

//operations

In multi-line comments, we use this "/*" at the start and we use this "*/" at the end of the multiple lines of comments. Everything in between these two signs becomes comments. We use it like this:

/* operation 1
operation 2
operation 3 */

Now, Here's the overall code to understand all these statements better:

As shown in the above code, we are first using the multi-line comments, and then we are using the single line comment. We are also printing out "Print Comments" in the console to show that the comments doesn't mess with any of our code, and they are just use to add notes and explanations to the code to make the code understandable, it is very helpful when we are using thousands of lines of codes, or to simplify the complex codes, or to make the code more readable for everyone. It seems like our comments works perfectly in our program.

Important Notes

Many beginners either overuse comments or underuse them, and both can be problematic. Writing a comment for every single line of obvious code can clutter the program and reduce readability. On the other hand, not writing comments at all makes the code difficult to understand, especially when revisiting it after a long time. The key is to comment the “why” more than the “what.”

Another common mistake is using outdated or misleading comments. If you change the code but forget to update the comments, they can confuse readers more than help them. Always make sure your comments accurately reflect what the code is doing.

Beginners should also avoid using comments as a substitute for clear variable and function names. Good naming reduces the need for excessive comments. For example, a variable named totalScore explains itself better than a vague name like x with a comment beside it.

One more important point is that nested comments are not allowed in C++. You cannot place a multi-line comment inside another multi-line comment, as it will cause compilation errors. This often confuses beginners when large sections of code are commented out.

Lastly, comments are extremely useful during debugging and learning. Temporarily commenting out parts of code helps test logic step by step, but remember to clean up unnecessary comments before finalizing your program.

Developing good commenting habits early will make your C++ code more professional, readable, and easier to maintain as your projects grow in size and complexity.

Conclusion

Using comments effectively in C++ helps make your code more readable, organized, and easier to debug. Whether you are writing single-line comments to explain a small section or multi-line comments to describe larger logic, good commenting habits improve collaboration and long-term code maintenance. As you continue learning C++, always remember that clear code combined with meaningful comments leads to better and more professional programs. Practice writing comments regularly to develop strong and responsible coding habits.

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