What is the purpose of comments in code?

Comments in code serve as annotations or notes that clarify the logic and purpose behind certain sections of the code. They significantly enhance readability by helping other developers or even the original coder understand how the code functions, the reason for specific decisions, and any potential caveats. By providing these explanations, comments contribute to the maintainability of the code, making it easier to update or troubleshoot in the future.

Unlike other elements of a program, comments do not impact performance or execution speed, as they are ignored by the compiler or interpreter during runtime. They don't define data types or structures, as that is the purpose of programming language syntax mechanics. Additionally, comments do not indicate the end of a program; this is typically denoted by specific keywords or commands defined by the programming language being used. Hence, the primary purpose of comments in code revolves around improving clarity and long-term manageability.