from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
comment out
vt.
To surround a section of code with comment delimiters or to prefix
every line in the section with a comment marker; this prevents it from
being compiled or interpreted. Often done when the code is redundant
or obsolete, but is being left in the source to make the intent of the
active code clearer; also when the code in that section is broken and
you want to bypass it in order to debug some other part of the code.
Compare {condition out}, usually the preferred technique in languages
(such as {C}) that make it possible.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
comment out
<programming> To surround a section of code with {comment}
{delimiters} or to prefix every line in the section with a
comment marker. This prevents it from being compiled or
interpreted. It is often done to temporarily disable the
code, e.g. during {debugging} or when the code is redundant or
obsolete, but is being left in the source to make the intent
of the active code clearer.
The word "comment" is sometimes replaced with whatever
{syntax} is used to mark comments in the language in question,
e.g. "hash out" ({shell script}, {Perl}), "REM out" ({BASIC}),
etc.
Compare {condition out}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1998-04-28)