What is the primary purpose of comments in programming?

The primary purpose of comments in programming is to improve readability for humans. Comments are included in the code to provide explanations or annotations about what specific sections of the code do, which aids other programmers (or the original author when revisiting the code later) in understanding the logic and intent behind the code. Well-placed comments can clarify complex algorithms, indicate sections of code that may require special attention, or describe the purpose of functions and variables, making the code more maintainable and easier to navigate.

Comments do not execute code, define variable types, or reserve keywords; they are purely for the benefit of the programmer's understanding. Thus, their key role is to enhance the comprehensibility of the code, facilitating collaboration and reducing ambiguity in programming projects.