Question

Is the following comment written using single-line or multi-line comment symbols? // This program was written by M. A. Codewriter

Short answer

Answer: Single-line comment symbols.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the comment symbol used in this comment

The comment given is : "// This program was written by M. A. Codewriter". The comment starts with two forward slashes "//".

Recognize the comment symbol type

The two forward slashes "//" are used for single-line comments in many programming languages like C, C++, Java, and JavaScript.

Final Answer

The comment is written using single-line comment symbols.

Key concepts

Programming Language Syntax

Programming language syntax encompasses the set of rules that define the combinations of symbols that are considered to be correctly structured programs in a programming language. Like any human language with a defined grammar, a programming language syntax ensures that the code written can be interpreted correctly by a compiler or interpreter.

In the context of C++, the syntax includes various language constructs, such as keywords, operators, data types, and control structures, as well as the way comments are formatted. Comments in C++ begin with two forward slashes (//) for single-line comments, this indicates that the rest of the line is not intended for the compiler to execute, but rather for the human reader to understand the purpose or reasoning behind the code. Correctly following this syntax is crucial for the code to compile and function as intended.

Code Documentation

Code documentation is an integral practice within software development that involves adding explanatory notes or comments to the source code. The purpose is to make the codebase understandable and maintainable by anyone who reads the code in the future—this could be the original developer or others who may work on the code base.

Comments do not affect the execution of the program, but they play a critical role in aiding understanding. Effective documentation within the code describes what the code does, why certain decisions were made, and provides information about complex logic that might not be immediately obvious. In the exercise example, // This program was written by M. A. Codewriter serves not only to credit the author but also provides context for future readers.

Source Code Commentary

Source code commentary, through comments, is instrumental in offering insight into what particular sections of code are supposed to perform. It can range from simple one-liners that give a brief overview of what follows, to more detailed descriptions when dealing with sophisticated or critical parts of the codebase.

In C++ and similar programming languages, single-line comments begin with // and are used to comment out a single line or to place a short annotation at the end of a line of code. For example, // Calculate the area of the circle immediately tells someone reading the code that the following lines perform an area calculation. It's a best practice to keep such comments concise and directly relevant to the adjacent code to prevent clutter and ensure clarity for anyone who will read the code in the future.