Chapter 3 – Python Comments and Code Documentation Basics

Python comments illustration showing single-line, multi-line, docstrings, best practices, and PEP 8 guidance for clean and readable code.
Chapter 3: Python Comments – Learn single-line, multi-line, and docstring comments, along with best practices and PEP 8 guidelines.

Chapter Overview

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to use comments in Python to make your code clear, readable, and easier to maintain. You’ll understand why comments matter, how Python processes them, and the different types of comments available, including single-line, inline, block-style, and docstring comments. This chapter also covers best practices, PEP 8 guidelines, and common beginner mistakes to avoid. By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to write meaningful comments that explain intent, improve code understanding, and support long-term code maintenance.


What You Will Learn in This Chapter

In this chapter, you will learn:

  • What Python comments are and how they help explain code logic clearly
  • Why comments are important for code readability, maintenance, and collaboration
  • How to write single-line and multi-line comments correctly in Python
  • When to use comments and when to let the code speak for itself
  • Common mistakes developers make while writing Python comments
  • How to follow PEP 8 guidelines for clean and professional commenting
  • Best practices for writing meaningful and effective code documentation
  • Answers to common questions about Python comments and documentation

This chapter will give you a strong, practical understanding of Python comments and code documentation—helping you write cleaner, more readable, and maintainable Python programs.


Lessons in This Chapter

Below is a list of all the lessons included in this chapter. Click on any topic to dive into the full tutorial.


Lesson 1: Python Comments Explained — Best Practices & Guidelines for Clean Code

This lesson explains Python comments, covering what they are, why they matter, and how to use them effectively. You’ll learn best practices for writing clear, meaningful comments that improve readability without cluttering or repeating the code.

What you’ll learn:


Lesson 2: Python Single-Line and Multi-Line Comments Explained (With Examples & Best Practices)

This lesson focuses on single-line and multi-line Python comments, explaining their syntax, usage, and practical differences. You’ll learn when to use each type and how comments improve code clarity without cluttering your logic.

What You’ll Learn:


Lesson 3: PEP 8 Guidelines for Python Comments: How to Write Clean Code and Avoid Common Mistakes

This lesson introduces PEP 8 guidelines for Python comments, explaining how to write clear, consistent, and readable comments. You’ll learn why proper comment formatting matters and how to avoid common mistakes that reduce code quality and clarity.

What You’ll Learn:


Lesson 4: Python Comments FAQ: Everything You Need to Know (Beginner to Advanced)

This lesson is the final FAQ wrap-up for Chapter 3, answering common questions that arise while learning Python comments and code documentation.
It helps clear confusion around comment usage, placement, best practices, and common mistakes using simple, beginner-friendly explanations.
Complete this lesson to reinforce what you’ve learned before moving on to more advanced Python documentation concepts.


What’s Next After This Chapter

You’ve made solid progress by learning how to use Python comments to explain your code clearly and effectively. By understanding different types of comments, best practices, and PEP 8 guidelines, you now know how to add meaningful explanations that improve code readability and long-term maintainability.

Now it’s time to move ahead to Chapter 4: Python Docstrings – Complete Guide, where you’ll take code documentation to the next level. In the next chapter, you’ll learn what Python docstrings are, how they differ from comments, how Python uses them at runtime, and how to write well-structured docstrings following standard conventions. This chapter will help you create professional, self-documented Python code and prepare you for writing maintainable, real-world applications—let’s continue the journey!