Writing comments in code is a fundamental yet often overlooked aspect of good software development. While code should be self-explanatory, well-placed comments can drastically improve clarity and make future maintenance easier.

🤔Why Comment at All?

• Explain why something is done, not just what is done.
• Help teammates and your future self understand complex logic.
• Reduce onboarding time for new developers.

✅Good Commenting Practices

1. Focus on the “Why”

Bad:

i++; // increment i

Good:

i++; // Move to the next item in the array

2. Keep Comments Updated

Outdated comments are worse than no comments. If the code changes, so should the comment.

3. Avoid Redundant Comments

Don't repeat what the code already tells.

Bad:

# Add a and b
result = a + b

Good:

# Combine user's previous and current scores
result = previous_score + new_score

4. Use TODOs and FIXMEs

// TODO: Refactor this to a reusable hook
// FIXME: Handle API error correctly

Use them consistently so others (and your tools) can track unfinished tasks.

💡Types of Comments

• Inline comments: Short, next to a line of code.
• Block comments: For explaining a logic block.
• Docstrings: For describing functions, classes, and modules.

Example in Python:

def add(a, b):
    """Return the sum of a and b."""
    return a + b

✨Tools That Help

• ESLint or Prettier: Can enforce comment style rules.
• VS Code extensions: Like “Better Comments” to color-code different comment types.

🔚Final Thought

Good comments make good code great. They're not just for others—they’re for you six months later, wondering what you were thinking.

Write less, but write clearly. Comment with purpose.