Overview

OXLA fully supports comments in your queries. Comments provide a way to add explanatory notes and improve the readability of queries, making it easier for developers and stakeholders to understand complex queries.

There are two types of comments in OXLA: single-line and multi-line (block).

Single Line Comments

A single-line comment in OXLA starts with two consecutive hyphens (—) and extends to the end of the line. These comments are used to annotate specific parts of a query, providing brief explanations or notes to assist in understanding the query.

Syntax:

-- This is an example single line comment

Multi-Line (Block) Comments

OXLA also supports multi-line comments, often referred to as block comments. These comments begin with /* and end with */, allowing for multi-line explanations or temporarily disabling sections of the query.

Syntax:

/*
This is an example multi-line comment.
It can span multiple lines and is useful for providing detailed explanations.
*/

Comment Placement

In OXLA, single-line comments should always be placed at the end of the line they refer to, whereas multi-line comments can be positioned anywhere within the query.

Example - Comment on Single Line:

SELECT column1, column2 -- This is an example single line comment
FROM table_name;

Example - Comment on Multiple Lines:

SELECT /* comment 1 */ column1, column2
FROM table_name /* comment 2 */
WHERE column3 = 42 /* comment 3 */ ;

Best Practices for Commenting

To maximize the benefits of comments in OXLA queries, follow these best practices: