Python Multiline Comments: How to Comment Multiple Lines in Python (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Python has several ways to write a multiline comment or comment out multiple lines of code. This guide covers every approach — from the recommended # style to triple-quoted strings, IDE shortcuts, and modern tooling for 2026.

Quick Answer

The most widely used python multiline comment uses # at the start of each line:

# This is a
# multi line comment in Python
# spanning several lines

Python does not have a native block comment syntax (unlike /* ... */ in Java or C). Instead, the community has settled on two main approaches covered below.

Method 1: Multiline Comment Python with # (Recommended)

PEP 8 — the official Python style guide — recommends using # for every comment line. This is also the default behaviour of all major Python IDEs like PyCharm, Sublime Text, and VS Code.

# This is the recommended way
# to write a multiline comment in Python.
# Each line starts with a hash symbol.

This is the standard multi line comment in Python used by the wider community. It is unambiguous, consistent with single-line comments, and supported by all linters and formatters (Ruff, Black, Flake8).

Method 2: Multiline Comment in Python with Triple Quotes

Guido van Rossum (the Python creator, Python BDFL) once shared a tip on Twitter/X:

"Python tip: You can use multi-line strings as multi-line comments. Unless used as docstrings, they generate no code! :-)"
— @BSUCSClub

According to this tip, multiline comments in Python can start with ''' and end with '''. They are created simply by placing text inside triple-quoted strings — both ''' and """ have valid syntax in Python.

Triple single-quote comment

'''
This is a multiline comment in Python
using triple single quotes.
It is ignored by the interpreter
as long as it is not used as a docstring.
'''

Triple double-quote comment

"""
This is another way to write
a multiline comment in Python.
Both examples have valid syntax.
"""

Important: If placed at the top of a function, class, or module, Python treats triple-quoted strings as a docstring, not a comment. More on that distinction below.

Python Multiline Comments vs. Docstrings

This is a common source of confusion for beginners. A docstring is a triple-quoted string in the first statement of a module, class, method, or function. It is accessible at runtime via __doc__. Everything else is just a string literal acting as a comment.

Single-line docstring

def is_palindrome(word):
    """Check if word is a palindrome."""
    return str(word) == str(word)[::-1]

Multiline docstring

def complex(real=0.0, imag=0.0):
    """Form a complex number.

    Keyword arguments:
    real -- the real part (default 0.0)
    imag -- the imaginary part (default 0.0)
    """
    if imag == 0.0 and real == 0.0:
        return complex_zero

Many projects and organisations use this style of docstring when they want comprehensive documentation. The image below shows the difference between a multiline comment and a docstring in practice:

PEP 257 best practices for docstrings:

• Always use triple double-quotes """, even for one-liners.
• One-liners: keep the closing """ on the same line.
• Multiline: closing """ goes on its own line.
• Describe what the function does, not how.

How to Comment Multiple Lines in Python — IDE Shortcuts (2026)

For commenting several lines in the most popular IDEs, select the lines you want and then press the shortcut below.

This is the default comment toggle for most popular Python IDEs like PyCharm, Sublime, and VS Code.

Python Multi Line Comment in PyCharm — Step by Step

Comment multiple lines

Start with some code you want to temporarily disable:

time.sleep(50 / 1000)   # 50 ms
time.sleep(5)            # 5 secs
time.sleep(60)           # 1 min
time.sleep(60 * 60)      # 1 hour

1. Select the lines you want to comment out.
2. Press Ctrl + / (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + / (Mac).

Result:

# time.sleep(50 / 1000)   # 50 ms
# time.sleep(5)            # 5 secs
time.sleep(60)             # 1 min
time.sleep(60 * 60)        # 1 hour

Uncomment multiple lines

Same shortcut — it toggles. Select the commented lines and press Ctrl + / again.

Result:

time.sleep(50 / 1000)   # 50 ms
time.sleep(5)            # 5 secs
time.sleep(60)           # 1 min
time.sleep(60 * 60)      # 1 hour

Behaviour with mixed lines (commented + uncommented)

If your selection contains both commented and uncommented lines:

• The first press of Ctrl + / will comment all lines (adding a second # in front of already-commented lines).
• The second press will uncomment all lines (removing only the first comment sign).

Before:

# time.sleep(50 / 1000)   # 50 ms
# time.sleep(5)            # 5 secs
time.sleep(60)             # 1 min
time.sleep(60 * 60)        # 1 hour

After first press:

# # time.sleep(50 / 1000)   # 50 ms
# # time.sleep(5)            # 5 secs
# time.sleep(60)             # 1 min
# time.sleep(60 * 60)        # 1 hour

Delete All Python Comments from a Project (PyCharm)

You can delete all Python comments from your Python project in PyCharm using Find and Replace with Regex (Ctrl + R, enable Regex mode):

Always test on a copy of your code first — these patterns can be greedy and may match more than intended.

Using python-minifier (2026)

For a safer, production-ready approach, use python-minifier:

pip install python-minifier
pyminify --remove-literal-statements your_script.py

This removes both # comments and bare triple-quoted string literals safely, without touching your actual string values.

Python Multiline Comments: Summary Table

Video: How to Comment Multiple Lines in Python (PyCharm)

For a visual walkthrough of Python comments in PyCharm — including how to remove or fold all comments — see the video guide on the Softhints YouTube channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Python have a block comment symbol like /* */?

No. Python only has # for single-line comments. A python multi line comment is achieved by repeating # on each line.

Can I use triple quotes as a multiline comment in Python?

Yes, with caveats. Triple-quoted strings placed outside function/class/module definitions are ignored at runtime. But they are not true comments — linters like Ruff may warn about bare string literals, and they do create string objects in some contexts. Use # lines for production clarity.

What is the shortcut to comment multiple lines in Python?

In virtually every modern IDE (VS Code, PyCharm, Cursor, Zed, Sublime Text), it's Ctrl + / on Windows/Linux or Cmd + / on Mac. Select your lines first, then press the shortcut to toggle.

What does PEP 8 say about multiline comments?

PEP 8 recommends using # for all block comments. Each line of a block comment should start with # (hash and a space). Triple-quoted strings are acceptable for docstrings only, not as general python multiline comments.

How do I comment multiple lines in Python without an IDE?

Add # manually at the start of each line. In the terminal, sed can automate this:

# Comment out every line in a file
sed -i 's/^/# /' your_script.py

References

• PEP 8 – Style Guide for Python Code: Comments
• PEP 257 – Docstring Conventions
• PyCharm: Commenting and Uncommenting Blocks of Code
• python-minifier on GitHub
• Python Regular Expression Matching Multiline Comments and Docstrings – Softhints