Arizona State University (ASU) CSE240 Introduction to Programming Languages Midterm Practice Exam

Comments in programming serve to explain and clarify the code for human readers. They provide context, outline the purpose of complex logic, describe the intent behind certain decisions, and offer insights into how a particular section of the code functions. This is especially valuable in collaborative environments where multiple developers may be working on the same project, as it aids in understanding and maintaining the code over time.

Comments help reduce the cognitive load on someone who might be reading the code later, whether it's a colleague, a future developer, or even the original author after some time has passed. They are crucial for documentation, allowing readers to follow the logic and flow without having to decipher every line of code. This enhances the readability and maintainability of the codebase, which is essential for ongoing development.

In contrast, comments do not affect the execution speed of the code, the security of the code, or its visibility in search engines, as those factors are determined by other aspects of programming and software design. Thus, adding comments is primarily about enhancing human understanding rather than impacting the performance or security of the program itself.