Python comments are used to provide descriptions that help programmers understand the functionality and intent of a program. These comments are denoted by the hash symbol (#) and are ignored by the Python interpreter.
Python docstrings, on the other hand, are used to document functions, methods, classes, and modules. They are placed within triple quotes immediately following the object's definition and provide a more detailed explanation of the object's purpose, parameters, and return value.
The doc attribute can be used to access a function or method's docstring. Whenever a string literal is present immediately after the definition of a function, module, class or method, it is associated with the object as its doc attribute. We can later use this attribute to retrieve this docstring.
Syntax:
def add_numbers(a, b):
"""
Adds two numbers together and returns the result.
:param a: The first number to add.
:type a: int
:param b: The second number to add.
:type b: int
:return: The sum of the two numbers.
:rtype: int
"""
return a + b
For example, in the code snippet provided, the add_numbers() function has a docstring that explains what the function does and what its parameters and return value are. By using a consistent docstring style like this, developers can make their code more readable, maintainable, and easier for others to understand and use.