Comprehensive Guide to Documentation Comments in C#

Documentation comments in C# are structured comments that describe code functionality and are processed by tools like Visual Studio and Sandcastle to generate user-friendly documentation. These comments are written in XML format and placed above code elements like classes, methods, properties, and fields.

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Syntax for Documentation Comments in C#
In C#, documentation comments start with three slashes (///) and support XML-based tags to provide detailed descriptions.

Example

/// <summary>
/// Represents a basic calculator for arithmetic operations.
/// </summary>
public class Calculator
{
    // Class implementation
}

Common XML Tags in C#
Here are the most commonly used XML tags in C# documentation comments:

General Tags

<summary>: Provides a brief summary of a class, method, or property.
<remarks>: Adds additional or detailed remarks about the element.
<example>: Contains code examples to demonstrate usage.
<value>: Describes the value returned by a property.
<inheritdoc>: Inherits documentation from the base class or interface.

Method-Specific Tags

<param>: Describes a method parameter.
<returns>: Documents the return value of a method.
<exception>: Describes exceptions thrown by the method.

Cross-Referencing Tags

<see>: Links to another code element for inline reference.
<seealso>: Refers to related code elements for more information.
<c>: Embeds inline code.
<code>: Displays a block of code in the documentation.

Examples of Documentation Comments in C#

Documenting a Class

/// <summary>
/// Performs basic arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction.
/// </summary>
/// <remarks>
/// This class is intended for demonstration purposes only.
/// </remarks>
public class Calculator
{
    // Class implementation
}

Documenting a Method

/// <summary>
/// Adds two integers and returns the result.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="a">The first integer.</param>
/// <param name="b">The second integer.</param>
/// <returns>The sum of the two integers.</returns>
/// <exception cref="ArgumentNullException">Thrown if a or b is null.</exception>
public int Add(int a, int b)
{
    if (a == null || b == null)
    {
        throw new ArgumentNullException("Parameters cannot be null.");
    }
    return a + b;
}

Documenting a Property

/// <summary>
/// Gets or sets the name of the calculator's manufacturer.
/// </summary>
/// <value>
/// A string representing the manufacturer's name.
/// </value>
public string Manufacturer { get; set; }

Documenting an Example

/// <example>
/// <code>
/// Calculator calc = new Calculator();
/// int result = calc.Add(5, 10);
/// Console.WriteLine(result); // Output: 15
/// </code>
/// </example>
public int Add(int a, int b)
{
    return a + b;
}

Best Practices for Documentation Comments in C#

1. Write Clear Summaries: Use to describe the purpose of a code element in a concise and meaningful way.
2. Use and Tags Appropriately: Ensure all method parameters and return values are documented.
3. Provide Examples: Use tags to demonstrate usage, especially for complex methods.
4. Link to Related Elements: Utilize and to refer readers to related parts of the codebase.
5. Maintain Consistency: Follow consistent formatting and style for all documentation comments.
6. Update Regularly: Sync documentation comments with code changes to prevent inaccuracies.

For more go to Microsoft Documentation

Thanks for reading.