If you write code, you already know how important it is to keep it readable and organised. One simple yet powerful habit is commenting. It helps you explain sections of your code, remind yourself of ideas, or even disable code temporarily without deleting it.
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is one of the most popular code editors because it is flexible, lightweight and easy to use. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, knowing how to comment multiple lines in VS Code will help you save time and work more efficiently.
In this guide, you will learn what commenting means, why it is useful, and how to comment or uncomment multiple lines in VS Code using different methods.
A comment is a line or block in your code that is not executed. Instead, it is meant for humans to read. Comments can describe what your code does, explain tricky sections, or leave notes for other developers working with you.
There are two common types of comments:
Single-line comments: Use when you need to make a short note on a single line.
Multi-line comments: Use when you need to comment out large sections or add detailed explanations.
Good commenting can make your code easier to maintain, debug, and share with others.
Javascript
// This is a single-line comment
/*
This is a
multi-line comment
*/
Commenting multiple lines at once is especially helpful when you want to:
When done correctly, multi-line comments help you and your team work faster and avoid mistakes.
VS Code makes it easy to comment multiple lines using your keyboard, the Command Palette, or your mouse. Here is how each method works.
This is the fastest way to comment or uncomment multiple lines in VS Code. First, highlight the lines of code you want to comment.
For single-line comments (adds // to each line):
For block comments (wraps selected code with /* … */ for languages like CSS, JavaScript, etc.):
Try it out. Select multiple lines, press the shortcut, and VS Code will automatically add or remove the comments.
The Command Palette in VS Code lets you search for commands and run them without using shortcuts.
To comment multiple lines using the Command Palette:
This is useful if you forget the shortcuts or want to explore other commands.
VS Code also lets you comment lines using your mouse.
This method is straightforward for beginners who prefer not to use shortcuts.
Uncommenting in VS Code is simple. Just use the same shortcut, Command Palette option, or right-click menu you used to comment the lines. VS Code will automatically remove the comment markers.
This toggle feature saves time, especially when you are testing different parts of your code.
Here are a few professional tips to make your comments clear and useful:
These habits will help you and your team read and maintain code more easily.
python
# BAD: Just repeating the code
# Set count to 5
count = 5
# GOOD: Explaining logic
# Set initial item count before loop begins
count = 5
1. Shortcuts not working:
Check if your keyboard shortcuts conflict with other settings. You can view and update your keybindings by going to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts.
2. Wrong comment style:
VS Code automatically uses the correct syntax for the language you are working in. If you see unexpected results, make sure your file has the correct language mode set.
3. Extension conflicts:
Some VS Code extensions can override shortcuts. Try disabling extensions one by one to find the cause if a shortcut stops working.
You can change the default shortcuts to something more comfortable.
Custom keybindings help you work faster, especially if you prefer a specific setup.
Learning how to comment multiple lines in VS Code is a small but powerful skill. It saves you time, keeps your code readable, and helps you manage changes during development. Whether you prefer keyboard shortcuts, the Command Palette, or your mouse, VS Code gives you flexible options.
Practice these methods and find what works best for your workflow. Over time, you will find that smart commenting makes you a more effective and confident developer.
Yes. VS Code automatically uses the right comment syntax for the language you are editing.
JSON does not officially support comments. However, you can temporarily change the file type to JSONC (JSON with Comments) to add comments.
Yes. Extensions like Better Comments help you organise your comments with different colours and tags for tasks, questions, or highlights.
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