Comments

Learn single-line (#) and multi-line (triple-quote) comments.

Why write comments?

Comments are text that Python ignores but explains the code to humans. Comments help you remember what code does later and help others understand it.

A single-line comment starts with the # sign. Everything from # to the end of the line is a comment:

# This is a comment
print("Hello")

Comments support code, they do not replace it. Clear variable names cannot replace a comment, but a good comment always helps.

Multi-line comments

Python has no separate syntax for multi-line comments. Instead we put # at the start of each line, or we use a triple-quoted string:

# This comment spans
# multiple lines

A triple-quoted string is actually a string; but when it is not assigned to a variable, Python ignores it. So it is used for documentation:

"""This is a
doc string"""

The docstring is the topic of a later lesson.

Exercise Add a comment

Print Welcome to the screen with print. Add a # Greeting message comment above it.

Show example solution

# Greeting message
print("Welcome")

Test yourself

Complete the comment line

# This line is a ____ line

Show answer

# This line is a comment line

Which of these is a valid Python comment?
- 
- // User input
- # User input
- /* Comment */
Show answer

# User input — A Python single-line comment starts with #.
Match each item to its purpose

#

Single-line comment
"""

Triple-quoted string
exit()

REPL exit
python3

Start the REPL

Next lesson: Indentation blocks

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