What symbol is used for comments in Python?

In Python, the symbol used for comments is the hash symbol, or pound sign, represented as "#". When you place this symbol before a line of text, Python interprets everything following it on that line as a comment, which means that it will not execute that text as code. This is useful for adding explanations or annotations in the code without affecting the program’s functionality.

For example:

# This is a comment

print("Hello, World!")  # This prints a message

In the first line, the comment explains what the code does or provides context. The second comment is inline, detailing the purpose of the print statement. This feature allows developers to write clearer, more maintainable code by providing insights into their thought process or logic behind certain implementations.

The other options represent comment symbols used in different programming languages. The double forward slash (//) is used for single-line comments in languages like C++ and Java. The combination of /* and */ is used for multi-line comments in C-based languages. The double dash (--) is a syntax for comments in SQL. Understanding these differences is essential for correctly writing comments in different programming languages.