What Does 3 Slashes Mean?

Quick fix? In code, hit Ctrl + / (Windows) or Cmd + / (Mac) at the start of the line. In a URL or address field, it’s probably a separator—check for three-word location identifiers like what3words.

What’s Going On Here?

Outside code, three slashes can mark a what3words address—a system that splits the world into 3m x 3m squares, each labeled with three words. Rarely, you might see them in URLs or legacy systems, but that’s not the norm.

How Do I Fix or Add These Comments?

Here’s how to make it work:

1. Open your C# project in Visual Studio 2022 (Version 17.8 or newer). Find the file where you want to add docs.
2. Hover over a class, method, or property. Type /// and hit Enter. Visual Studio builds a template with <summary> and <returns> tags.
3. Fill in the blanks. For example:

   <summary>
   Gets the full name of the user.
   </summary>
   <returns>
   A string with the first and last name.
   </returns>

4. Save the file. Now your IDE tooltips and generated docs will show this text when you hover.

For what3words addresses:

• Go to map.what3words.com.
• Paste the three-word address (e.g., ///house.bench.lamp).
• If it’s valid, the map zooms to that exact spot. If not, you’ll get an error.

Why Didn’t This Work?

First, double-check you’re editing a .cs file—JavaScript and Python use different comment styles. Then, in Visual Studio, go to Tools > Options > Text Editor > C# > Advanced and make sure “Generate XML documentation comments for ///” is turned on.

For what3words:

• Look for typos—what3words uses periods, not spaces (e.g., house.bench.lamp).
• Some apps add the /// for you, so try including it if it’s missing.
• Run the address through the what3words validator to catch swapped words or wrong separators.

In URLs or plain text:

• If you see /// in a URL, it’s likely a typo—most servers read https://example.com, not https:///example.com.
• In text files, triple slashes are usually mistakes. Swap them for spaces or a single slash if you’re using them as separators.

How Can I Avoid Issues Later?

For developers:

• Turn on CodeLens (under Tools > Options > Text Editor > All Languages > CodeLens) to preview docs inline.
• Use Git pre-commit hooks to flag public methods missing documentation.

For non-developers sharing what3words addresses:

• Stick to three words separated by periods (e.g., house.bench.lamp).
• Skip extra slashes—the system expects exactly three words, no more.
• Always verify the address on the official map before sending it.

For general text editing:

• Use Find and Replace (Ctrl+H) to clean up extra slashes. Search for /// and swap it for a space or the separator you need.