What is the main purpose of comments in scripting?

The main purpose of comments in scripting is to explain code and enhance readability. Comments serve as annotations that help programmers understand the functionality and intent behind certain lines of code. They allow others (or the original author at a later date) to quickly grasp what a particular section of the script does without needing to decipher the logic themselves. This becomes particularly useful in collaborative projects or when revisiting code after a long time. Well-commented code can significantly reduce the time required for debugging and maintenance, as it provides context to the operations being performed, making it easier to follow the flow and logic of the script.

Other options do not align with the primary role of comments. For example, comments do not execute code or improve its performance, nor do they contribute directly to security or memory usage. Instead, their primary role is to facilitate understanding and maintainability of the code.