JavaScript comments can be used to explain JavaScript code, and to make it more readable.
JavaScript comments can also be used to prevent execution, when testing alternative code.
Single Line Comments
Single line comments start with //.
Any text between // and the end of the line will be ignored by JavaScript (will not be executed).
This example uses a single-line comment before each code line:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h1 id="myH"></h1>
<p id="myP"></p>
<script>
// Change heading:
document.getElementById("myH").innerHTML = "JavaScript Comments";
// Change paragraph:
document.getElementById("myP").innerHTML = "My first paragraph.";
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Comments
My first paragraph.
This example uses a single line comment at the end of each line to explain the code:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Comments</h2>
<p id="demo"></p>
<script>
let x = 5; // Declare x, give it the value of 5
let y = x + 2; // Declare y, give it the value of x + 2
// Write y to demo:
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = y;
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Comments
7
Multi-line Comments
Multi-line comments start with /* and end with */.
Any text between /* and */ will be ignored by JavaScript.
This example uses a multi-line comment (a comment block) to explain the code:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h1 id="myH"></h1>
<p id="myP"></p>
<script>
/*
The code below will change
the heading with id = "myH"
and the paragraph with id = "myP"
*/
document.getElementById("myH").innerHTML = "JavaScript Comments";
document.getElementById("myP").innerHTML = "My first paragraph.";
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Comments
My first paragraph.
Using Comments to Prevent Execution
Using comments to prevent execution of code is suitable for code testing.
Adding // in front of a code line changes the code lines from an executable line to a comment.
This example uses // to prevent execution of one of the code lines:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Comments</h2>
<h1 id="myH"></h1>
<p id="myP"></p>
<script>
//document.getElementById("myH").innerHTML = "My First Page";
document.getElementById("myP").innerHTML = "My first paragraph.";
</script>
<p>The line starting with // is not executed.</p>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Comments
My first paragraph.
The line starting with // is not executed.
This example uses a comment block to prevent execution of multiple lines:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Comments</h2>
<h1 id="myH"></h1>
<p id="myP"></p>
<script>
/*
document.getElementById("myH").innerHTML = "Welcome to my Homepage";
document.getElementById("myP").innerHTML = "This is my first paragraph.";
*/
document.getElementById("myP").innerHTML = "The comment-block is not executed.";
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Comments
The comment-block is not executed.