Asking AI to Explain Code
When you encounter code you don't understand, AI coding agents can explain it clearly. This skill accelerates learning and helps you work with unfamiliar codebases. The key is asking effective questions.
Basic Explanation Requests
Start with straightforward requests:
Explain this Python code line by line:
name = input("Enter your name: ")
greeting = "Hello, " + name + "!"
print(greeting)
AI will walk through each line, explaining what it does and why. This is especially helpful when learning new syntax or encountering unfamiliar patterns.
Asking About Specific Parts
When one piece confuses you, focus your question:
What does the % operator do in this code?
remainder = 17 % 5
print(remainder)
Targeted questions get targeted answers. You'll learn faster than asking AI to explain everything at once.
Follow-Up Questions
Good explanations often raise new questions. Keep asking:
- "Why does it use
int()here instead of just using the number directly?" - "What would happen if I removed the colon after
if?" - "Is there another way to write this that might be clearer?"
These conversations deepen understanding. AI can show alternatives, explain tradeoffs, and connect concepts.
Asking "Why" Questions
Understanding why code is written a certain way matters as much as understanding what it does:
Why does this code use a list instead of separate variables?
names = ["Alice", "Bob", "Charlie"]
for name in names:
print(name)
These questions reveal design decisions and best practices.
Verifying AI Explanations
AI explanations are usually accurate, but not always. Build the habit of verification:
- Test the code yourself and observe the behavior
- Check official documentation for details
- Try modifying the code to see if the explanation holds
This isn't about distrusting AI – it's about building genuine understanding rather than just accepting explanations.
When to Ask AI vs Search
AI excels at explaining specific code snippets in context. For broader topics or authoritative details, documentation and official resources are better. Use both:
- AI: "Explain what this specific function does"
- Docs: "What are all the parameters
print()accepts?"
Building the Habit
Make asking AI a regular part of your learning. When you see unfamiliar code – in tutorials, documentation, or other people's projects – ask AI to explain it. Each explanation builds your mental library of patterns and techniques.