: How I use /explain to understand weird code

One of the hardest parts of learning to code is reading someone else’s code. Or, let’s be honest, reading your own code from three months ago.

Since I have a big interest in cybersecurity, I spend a lot of time looking at complex network scanning scripts and ethical hacking configurations. A lot of times, I come across these massive Python scripts or crazy Bash commands on GitHub that look like absolute gibberish.

Today I found a shortcut that feels like a cheat code for studying. Copilot Chat has these built-in slash commands, and the best one by far is /explain.

I highlighted a really confusing block of networking code that was using a bunch of weird regex (regular expressions) and obscure library methods. I clicked the chat icon, typed /explain, and hit enter.

It didn’t just give me a dictionary definition. It broke down the code step-by-step in plain English. It told me what the variables were doing, what the regex was actually searching for, and what the final output would be.

This is huge for me right now. Whenever I’m studying for my Advanced Java or Object Oriented Software Engineering exams, and I see a complex concept in the textbook or a sample project, I just throw it into VS Code and ask Copilot to explain it to me like I’m a beginner. It’s basically a free, 24/7 tutor.