Java Comments

Comments in Java are textual annotations added to the source code for various purposes, such as providing explanations, making code more readable, or disabling specific code segments. Comments are ignored by the Java compiler and do not affect the program’s functionality. Java supports three types of comments:

1. Single-Line Comments: Single-line comments are used for writing short explanations or notes within the code. They start with // and continue until the end of the line. // This is a single-line comment int x = 10; // Variable x stores an integer value
2. Multi-Line Comments: Multi-line comments, also known as block comments, are used for longer explanations or comments that span multiple lines. They start with /* and end with */. /* This is a multi-line comment. It can span multiple lines. */ int y = 20; // Variable y stores another integer value
3. Javadoc Comments: Javadoc comments are used for generating documentation for classes, methods, and fields. They start with /** and end with */. Javadoc comments are used to automatically generate API documentation and should include information about the purpose, usage, and parameters of classes, methods, and fields. /** * This is a Javadoc comment for the MyClass class. * It provides information about the class. */ public class MyClass { /** * This is a Javadoc comment for the doSomething method. * It explains the purpose of the method. * @param value An integer value to process. * @return The result of the operation. */ public int doSomething(int value) { // Method implementation here } }
4. Commenting Out Code: You can also use comments to temporarily disable a section of code. This is often helpful for debugging or testing different code segments without deleting them. For example: // The following code is commented out // int z = 30;

Comments are essential for code documentation and maintenance. They help developers understand the code, provide explanations, and indicate the purpose of different parts of the code. It’s considered good practice to include comments in your code to make it more understandable and maintainable, both for yourself and for others who may work with the code in the future.