How to comment out a block of code in Python [duplicate]

Answer 1

The only mechanism to comment out Python code (understood as code ignored by the interpreter) is the #.

As you say, you can also use string literals, that are not ignored by the interpreter, but can be completely irrelevant for the program execution.

Answer 2

The only cure I know for this is a good editor. Sorry.

Answer 3

In JetBrains PyCharm on Mac use Command + / to comment/uncomment selected block of code. On Windows, use CTRL + /.

Answer 4

Python does not have such a mechanism. Prepend a # to each line to block comment. For more information see PEP 8. Most Python IDEs support a mechanism to do the block-commenting-with-pound-signs automatically for you. For example, in IDLE on my machine, it's Alt+3 and Alt+4.

Don't use triple-quotes; as you discovered, this is for documentation strings not block comments, although it has a similar effect. If you're just commenting things out temporarily, this is fine as a temporary measure.

Answer 5

M-x comment-region, in Emacs' Python mode.

Answer 6

Triple quotes are OK to me. You can use ''' foo ''' for docstrings and """ bar """ for comments or vice-versa to make the code more readable.