What are Comments in HTML?
The comment tag in HTML is utilized to add comments to the source code. Comments, which are invisible in web browsers, serve as explanations for the code and are beneficial when revising the source code in the future, particularly in cases where there is a substantial amount of code.
By utilizing comments in our code, we can insert reminders to track our progress during development. Comments are valuable for clarifying code to teammates or our future selves. They can also be used to delegate tasks or highlight issues for others to address.
In essence, the act of adding comments in HTML serves as a valuable aid in enhancing our efficiency during the website development and debugging processes.
Syntax
The syntax of HTML comments is as follows:
<!?Hello World! -->
In HTML, the comments start with <! -- and end with -->
Key points about Comments in HTML
- Comments are ignored by web browsers.
- They help us with code readability and documentation.
- We can denote comments in HTML by <!--comment-->.
- We also have a shortcut key that we can use for commenting on our code which is Ctrl + \.
- HTML supports both single-line and multi-line comments.
Types of Comments in HTML
Within HTML, there are two distinct methods for commenting, both of which serve the purpose of incorporating comments into HTML documents.
Single line comments
The single-line comment is placed within the <!--?-->.
Syntax
<!--comment-->
Multi-line comments
Multi-line comments are utilized when adding more than one line of text in a comment, differing from single-line comments which are for a single line of text.
Syntax
<!--
This is a multi-line comment
Welcome
-->
How to write comments in HTML?
To add comments in HTML, we employ the <!--comment--> tag preceding the content we wish to conceal. This specific tag instructs the browser to disregard any content enclosed within it.
Imagine this scenario: You are collaborating with a group of developers to create a website, and you need to communicate that uniform button colors are essential.
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Document</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- this is a comment -->
<h1>Hello World!</h1>
</body>
</html>
Output:
In the example shown above, a single-line comment was utilized to display "Hello World!" by employing the h1 tag.
How to write multi-line comments in HTML?
In HTML, multi-line comments extend over multiple lines, providing a suitable option for detailed descriptions or temporarily deactivating sections of code.
To create a multi-line comment in HTML, you can use the same approach by wrapping the desired text within the <! ----> markers.
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Multi-line comment</title>
</head>
<body>
<!--
This is a
multi-line
comment
-->
<h1>Hello</h1>
<p>Welcome to our tutorial</p>
</body>
</html>
Output:
How to write an inline comment in HTML?
It is also possible to retain the inline comment within active segments of HTML markup.
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Document</title>
</head>
<style>
.btn{
background-color: gold;
padding: 0.5rem;
}
</style>
<body>
<h1>Hello World!!</h1>
<button class="btn">Click me <!--this is a inline comment--></button>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Shortcut key for Comments in HTML
Within HTML, comments are utilized to embed annotations or explanations within the code that won't appear in the web browser. They serve as valuable aids for developers to grasp the intent behind specific code segments, create notes, or deactivate certain code portions temporarily while debugging.
While HTML does not have a predefined shortcut key for inserting comments like some text editors or integrated development environments (IDEs) do, we can manually add comments in HTML. Alternatively, we can explore configuring a custom shortcut key within our preferred editor.
If you are seeking a method to enhance the efficiency of adding comments in our HTML code, one option is to utilize a text editor or leverage an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that offers support for code snippets. By utilizing these functionalities, we have the ability to create personalized abbreviations or instructions to swiftly insert commonly utilized sections of code, such as comments.
Below are instructions on how to create a personalized shortcut for inserting comments in certain Integrated Development Environments (IDEs):
Visual studio code
One option is to add an extension such as "custom shortcut" or "code snippets" that lets us create personalized shortcuts. Another approach is to create a new shortcut specifically for inserting comments into HTML code.
Choose a key combination that suits you best, for example, Ctrl + / or Ctrl + Shift + C.
Sublime Text
A support snippet for HTML comments can be generated in Sublime Text.
Go to Tools> Developer> New Snippet
Enter the following snippet code:
<snippet>
<content><![CDATA[<!-- $0 -->]]></content>
<tabTrigger>comment</tabTrigger>
<scope>text.html</scope>
</snippet>
Atom also supports the snippets.
Go to File > Snippets
Include a code snippet below to demonstrate the syntax for creating HTML comments, akin to the example provided for Sublime Text.
Notepad++
Notepad++ lacks native support for snippets, however, we can utilize macros as an alternative.
Initially, we must create a macro that inserts an HTML comment and links it to a specific keyboard shortcut.
Creating a shortcut allows for the swift insertion of HTML comments in code, eliminating the need to manually type out the complete comment syntax repeatedly. It is important to note that the specific steps may differ based on the text editor or IDE in use.