Use Doxygen’s special comment blocks to generate documentation. Begin each comment block with /** and end it with */. Place these blocks immediately above functions, classes, variables, and other code elements you want to document.
Brief Descriptions and Detailed Explanations
Provide a concise description on the first line of your comment, followed by a more thorough explanation. This ensures both quick overviews and in-depth understanding. For example:
/** * Calculates the area of a rectangle. * * This function takes the length and width as inputs and returns the calculated area. It handles potential errors gracefully. * \param length The length of the rectangle. * \param width The width of the rectangle. * eturn The area of the rectangle, or -1 if an error occurs. */ double calculateArea(double length, double width);
Note the use of \param and eturn commands. These are Doxygen commands that specifically format the parameters and return values, making your documentation cleaner and more readable.
Adding Examples
Illustrate your functions with code examples. Use the \code and \endcode commands to format code snippets within your comments. Clear examples significantly improve understanding, especially for complex functions.
/** * Converts a string to uppercase. * \param inputString The string to convert. * eturn The uppercase version of the input string. * * \code * std::string upper = stringToUpper("hello"); // upper will be "HELLO" * \endcode */ std::string stringToUpper(const std::string& inputString);
Using other Doxygen commands
Explore other Doxygen commands like \brief for short descriptions, \see for cross-referencing, and \warning to highlight potential issues. Refer to the Doxygen documentation for a complete list.
Consistency is Key
Maintain consistent formatting and style throughout your codebase for easier navigation and understanding. Properly documenting your code saves time and effort during maintenance and collaboration.
