Definition
Notes written in plain language within a program that are ignored by the Python interpreter during execution.
Why It Matters
Code explains the “how,” but comments explain the “why.” Without them, your past decisions become a mystery to your future self and teammates. The cost is “technical debt”—time wasted reverse-engineering your own logic because you didn’t leave a “signpost” of intent. They are the essential bridge for human collaboration in a machine-readable world.
Core Concepts
- Syntax: Starts with a hash mark (
#). - Purpose: To explain what the code is doing, why a certain approach was taken, and to document complex logic.
- Audience: Your future self and other developers who will read the code.
# Calculate the total price including tax
price = 100
tax_rate = 0.05
# We use the adjusted rate for regional compliance
total_price = price * (1 + tax_rate)