documentation

name	documentation
description	XML documentation and inline comment conventions for C# code. Load when writing documentation or comments.

Documentation Conventions

XML Documentation

Required for all members regardless of visibility. Follow this structure:

/// <summary>
///   Processes the <paramref name="data"/> asynchronously.
/// </summary>
///
/// <param name="data">The data to process.</param>
/// <param name="cancellationToken">A token that can be used to signal a request for cancellation.</param>
///
/// <returns>The processed result.</returns>
///
/// <exception cref="ArgumentNullException">Thrown when data is null.</exception>
///

Required tags: <summary> for all APIs, <param> for all parameters, <exception> for documented exceptions, <seealso> for related documentation.

Summary form

Fields and constants use the single-line /// <summary>…</summary>. All other members, and every type including nested types, use the multi-line block with a trailing blank /// line.

<returns> and Task

Document <returns> only for a member that produces a value: a synchronous value-returning method, or a Task<T> (describe the produced value). Do not add <returns> to a void method or a non-generic Task (including every async test method), which produce no value.

Descriptive Parameter Documentation

Parameter docs must describe the purpose, behavior, or context — avoid restating the parameter name or type.

// ❌ BAD: Restates the name.
/// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token.</param>
/// <param name="gameState">The game state.</param>

// ✅ GOOD: Describes purpose or behavior.
/// <param name="cancellationToken">A token that can be used to signal a request for cancellation.</param>
/// <param name="gameState">The current state of the game, including board positions and turn tracking.</param>

<inheritdoc /> Usage

Use <inheritdoc /> for well-known standard members where the base documentation is sufficient and widely understood (e.g., ToString(), Equals(), GetHashCode(), Dispose()).

Prefer explicit documentation for domain-specific members where readers benefit from the locality of information — especially interface implementations with project-specific behavior.

// ✅ GOOD: inheritdoc for well-known standard members.
/// <inheritdoc />
public override string ToString() => $"Move({Player}, {PositionIndex}, {Token})";

// ✅ GOOD: Explicit docs for domain-specific interface implementation.
/// <summary>
///   Plays a turn by prompting the console user for input and validating the response.
/// </summary>
///
public async Task<Move> PlayTurnAsync(GameState gameState, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)

Inline Comments

Inline comments must be full sentences ending with periods, followed by a blank line before the next code statement.

// Set up test data for the validation scenario.

var gameState = CreateValidGameState();