How to use comments in YAML? Examples Included

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YAML (short for "YAML Ain't Markup Language") is a human-readable data serialization format that is often used for configuration files and data exchange between applications.

One of the useful features of YAML is the ability to add comments to your code.

Comments are used to add descriptions, explanations or notes to your code, to make it easier for yourself and others to understand what the code does.

In this guide, we will explore how to use comments in YAML.

YAML Comments Syntax

YAML supports two types of comments: line comments and block comments.

Line Comments

Line comments start with a hash symbol # and continue until the end of the line.

For example:

# This is a comment in YAML

Everything after the # symbol is ignored by the YAML parser.

You can add line comments to the end of a line that contains YAML data.

For example:

name: John # This is a comment

In this example, the comment follows the value for the "name" key.

The comment is separated from the value by a space and a hash symbol.

Block Comments In YAML

For block comments you can just use line comments for each line.

For example:

# This comment
# is too long

The other way to use block comments is to start with a keyword/description followed by > and then by a new line.

The comment text then appears on the following lines until the end of the block, which is indicated by a less than symbol <.

For example:

Instead of
# This comment
# is too long

use
Description: >
    This comment
    is too long
>

In this example, the block comment starts with a keyword/description followed by > and ends with <.

Block comments are often used to provide longer explanations or notes for sections of your YAML code.

YAML Inline Comments

In YAML, you can add comments inline using the # symbol.

Any text after the # symbol on a line is considered a comment and will be ignored by the YAML parser.

For example:

# This is a comment
key: value  # This is another comment

In the example above, the first line is a comment that will be ignored, and the second line sets a key-value pair with a comment at the end of the line.

Best Practices for Using Comments in YAML

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using comments in YAML:

  1. Use comments to explain complex or hard-to-understand code. Comments should make it easier for others (and yourself!) to understand what the code is doing.

  2. Use clear and concise language. Keep your comments short and to the point. Avoid using technical jargon or abbreviations that may not be familiar to everyone.

  3. Use consistent formatting. Make sure your comments are formatted consistently throughout your YAML file. This can make it easier to read and understand your code.

  4. Use comments sparingly. While comments can be useful, too many comments can make your code harder to read. Use comments only when necessary.

  5. Keep comments up to date. If you make changes to your code, make sure to update any associated comments. This can help ensure that your comments remain accurate and useful.

Summary

In conclusion, comments are a powerful tool for making your YAML code more readable and understandable.

By following these best practices, you can create YAML files that are easy to work with and maintain.

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