How to Explain Your Code in English (Step-by-Step Framework)

Explaining your code in English is no longer optional. Whether you work in a global tech company, contribute to open-source projects, study abroad, or collaborate with international teammates, your ability to clearly explain your code can directly impact your career growth.

Many developers can write solid code—but struggle to explain what it does in simple, structured English. The problem is rarely grammar. It is usually structure, clarity, and confidence.

This guide provides a step-by-step framework you can use every time you need to explain your code—during meetings, code reviews, interviews, documentation writing, or technical presentations.

By the end, you will have a practical system you can reuse again and again.

Why Explaining Code in English Is Difficult

Before jumping into the framework, let’s understand the common challenges developers face:

• Thinking in code, not in plain language

• Overusing technical jargon

• Explaining line-by-line instead of explaining purpose

• Losing structure and jumping between ideas

• Being too detailed or too vague

Most developers explain how something works before explaining what and why. That creates confusion.

A good explanation follows a logical order:

1. What it does

2. Why it exists

3. How it works

4. Important details

5. Edge cases or limitations

Now let’s turn this into a repeatable framework.

The 6-Step Framework for Explaining Code

Whenever you explain code, follow this structure:

1. Context

2. Purpose

3. High-Level Overview

4. Step-by-Step Logic

5. Key Decisions and Trade-offs

6. Edge Cases and Improvements

Let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Start With Context

Before explaining your code, explain where it fits.

Many developers immediately start with:
“This function takes two parameters and returns…”

Instead, start with context:

• What feature is this part of?

• What problem is it solving?

• Where is it used?

Example

Weak explanation:

This function sorts the list using quicksort.

Better explanation:

This function is part of our product search feature. It sorts the product list by price before displaying results to users.

Notice the difference. The second version answers: Why should I care?

Useful English Phrases

• “This module is responsible for…”

• “This component handles…”

• “This function is used in the context of…”

• “This is part of the authentication flow.”

Context creates orientation. Without it, your explanation feels disconnected.

Step 2: Explain the Purpose Clearly

After context, clearly state what the code does in one or two simple sentences.

This is your summary statement.

Avoid implementation details here.

Good Purpose Statements

• “The goal of this function is to validate user input before submitting the form.”

• “This class manages database connections.”

• “This API endpoint retrieves user profile data.”

Keep it short and clear.

A Simple Formula

You can use this structure:

“The purpose of this [function/class/module] is to + verb.”

Examples:

• “The purpose of this middleware is to check user authentication.”

• “The purpose of this script is to automate data cleaning.”

If you cannot explain the purpose in one sentence, the code might be too complex—or unclear.

Step 3: Give a High-Level Overview (Before Details)

Now that the listener understands context and purpose, explain how it works at a high level.

Do not go line-by-line.

Explain the flow.

Example

Instead of:

First, it declares a variable. Then it loops. Then it pushes values…

Say:

At a high level, this function first filters invalid data, then transforms the remaining items, and finally returns the formatted result.

See the difference? You describe stages, not syntax.

Useful Phrases

• “At a high level…”

• “Broadly speaking…”

• “The overall flow is…”

• “There are three main steps…”

The Rule of Three

If possible, divide your logic into 2–4 main steps:

1. Input validation

2. Data processing

3. Output formatting

Structured explanations sound professional and confident.

Step 4: Walk Through the Logic Step-by-Step

Now you can go deeper.

Explain the logic in order, but still focus on meaning—not syntax.

Instead of reading code, explain reasoning.

Weak Explanation

Here we use map. Then we use reduce. Then we return the result.

Strong Explanation

First, we iterate over the array to extract only active users. Then we calculate the total score using reduce. Finally, we return the aggregated result.

Notice how verbs matter:

• filter

• validate

• extract

• calculate

• transform

• aggregate

• store

• trigger

• initialize

Use action verbs to describe logic.

A Structured Pattern

For each step:

1. What happens?

2. Why does it happen?

3. What is the result?

Example:

First, we check if the user token exists to prevent unauthorized access. If it doesn’t exist, we return an error response. Otherwise, we proceed with fetching the data.

This shows both logic and intention.

Step 5: Explain Important Technical Decisions

Now demonstrate deeper understanding.

Explain:

• Why you chose this approach

• Why you avoided another method

• Performance considerations

• Security concerns

• Scalability issues

This is especially important in interviews and senior-level discussions.

Example

We use a hash map here instead of a nested loop to reduce time complexity from O(n²) to O(n).

Or:

We implemented caching to improve performance because this endpoint is called frequently.

This step shows maturity.

Useful Phrases

• “We chose this approach because…”

• “This helps improve performance by…”

• “This prevents potential issues such as…”

• “An alternative approach would be…, but…”

If you skip this step, your explanation sounds mechanical. Including it makes you sound strategic.

Step 6: Mention Edge Cases and Limitations

Professional developers think about edge cases.

When explaining code, mention:

• What happens if input is empty?

• What happens if data is invalid?

• What are known limitations?

• What would you improve?

Example:

One limitation of this implementation is that it doesn’t handle very large datasets efficiently. In the future, we could optimize it by adding pagination.

Or:

We also handle edge cases such as null input or missing fields to avoid runtime errors.

This signals experience.

Putting It All Together: Full Example

Let’s say you need to explain a login function.

Bad Explanation

This function checks the username and password and returns a token.

Too short. No structure. No depth.

Strong Structured Explanation

This function is part of our authentication system.
The purpose of this function is to verify user credentials and generate an access token.

At a high level, it performs three main steps: it validates the input, checks the credentials against the database, and then generates a JWT token.

First, we validate that both email and password are provided. If either is missing, we return an error.
Next, we query the database to find the user by email. If the user exists, we compare the hashed password with the stored hash.
If the credentials are valid, we generate a JWT token with an expiration time and return it to the client.

We use hashed passwords instead of plain text for security reasons. Additionally, the token has an expiration time to reduce security risks.

One limitation is that we currently don’t implement rate limiting, which could be added to prevent brute-force attacks.

That explanation is clear, structured, and professional.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Reading Code Line-by-Line

Explaining:

Here is a for loop. Here is an if statement.

This is not helpful. Focus on logic, not syntax.

2. Overusing Jargon

Avoid saying:

It leverages asynchronous concurrency paradigms.

Instead:

It runs tasks asynchronously to improve performance.

Clarity is more important than sounding impressive.

3. Being Too Detailed Too Early

Don’t start with:

It uses a recursive binary tree with memoization…

Start simple. Add detail gradually.

4. Ignoring the Audience

Adjust your explanation depending on who is listening:

• Non-technical stakeholder → focus on outcome and impact

• Junior developer → focus on logic

• Senior engineer → focus on architecture and trade-offs

How to Practice Explaining Code in English

Improvement requires practice.

1. Record Yourself

Take a small function and explain it out loud for 2–3 minutes.

Listen for:

• Structure

• Clarity

• Filler words

2. Use the Framework as a Template

Write short explanations using:

• Context

• Purpose

• Overview

• Logic

• Decisions

• Edge cases

Turn this into a habit.

3. Practice With Real Scenarios

Simulate:

• Code review explanations

• Technical interviews

• Demo presentations

• Stand-up updates

For example:

Yesterday, I implemented the payment validation feature. The goal was to ensure transaction integrity. At a high level…

Practicing real scenarios builds confidence.

How to Explain Code in Different Situations

During a Code Review

Be concise and structured.

This function handles user input validation. It ensures all required fields are present before sending data to the API. I added additional checks to prevent null reference errors.

During a Job Interview

Go deeper into decisions and trade-offs.

I chose a queue-based system to handle background jobs because it allows better scalability and fault tolerance.

During a Presentation

Focus on impact.

This optimization reduced API response time by 40%, which significantly improved user experience.

The Mental Model: Think in Layers

When explaining code, think in layers:

Layer 1: Business purpose
Layer 2: System behavior
Layer 3: Technical logic
Layer 4: Optimization and trade-offs

Move from top to bottom.

Most developers start at Layer 3. Professionals start at Layer 1.

A Simple Checklist Before You Finish

Before ending your explanation, ask yourself:

• Did I explain what it does?

• Did I explain why it exists?

• Did I summarize the overall flow?

• Did I explain key decisions?

• Did I mention limitations?

If yes, your explanation is complete.

Final Thoughts

Explaining code in English is not about perfect grammar.

It is about:

• Clear structure

• Logical flow

• Intentional explanation

• Awareness of audience

If you follow the 6-step framework:

1. Context

2. Purpose

3. High-Level Overview

4. Step-by-Step Logic

5. Decisions and Trade-offs

6. Edge Cases and Improvements

You will sound structured, confident, and professional.

The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.

And once you master this skill, you won’t just write good code—you’ll be able to communicate it clearly, which is what truly separates strong developers from great ones.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How do I explain my code in English if my vocabulary is limited?

Start with simple, high-frequency verbs and a clear structure. You do not need advanced vocabulary to sound professional. Use basic phrases like “This function is used to…,” “The goal is to…,” and “At a high level….” Focus on describing purpose and flow rather than naming every language feature. If you forget a word, rephrase using easier terms. For example, instead of “sanitize,” say “clean the input.” Over time, build a small personal list of verbs (validate, check, filter, convert, store, return) and reuse them consistently.

What is the best order to explain code in a meeting or review?

A reliable order is: context, purpose, high-level overview, step-by-step logic, key decisions, then edge cases. This matches how listeners process information. Context tells them where the code fits. Purpose tells them what problem it solves. A high-level overview provides a map of the logic. Step-by-step logic gives the details. Key decisions show why you chose this approach. Edge cases and limitations show professionalism. If time is short, explain only the first three parts, then answer questions.

Should I explain code line by line?

Usually, no. Line-by-line explanations often sound like reading the code and can confuse the listener. Most people want meaning and reasoning, not syntax. Instead, explain the logic in “chunks” or stages, such as “validate input,” “fetch data,” “transform results,” and “return output.” Line-by-line is useful only when debugging a specific issue or reviewing a critical section where one small detail changes behavior. Even then, explain why each line matters rather than naming each statement.

How can I sound clear without using too much technical jargon?

Use “plain English first, technical terms second.” Start with a simple sentence, then add the technical detail if needed. For example: “We store the result temporarily to speed up future requests. In other words, we cache the data.” This approach helps both technical and non-technical listeners. Also, define uncommon terms quickly: “A webhook is basically an automated message sent when an event happens.” Clarity improves when you use short sentences, familiar verbs, and logical connectors like “first,” “then,” “because,” and “as a result.”

What phrases can I use to explain the flow of my code?

Use flow phrases that signal structure. For example: “At a high level, this works in three steps…,” “First, we check…,” “Next, we fetch…,” “Then we transform…,” “Finally, we return….” For conditions: “If X happens, we… Otherwise, we….” For reasons: “We do this to prevent…,” “This helps reduce…,” “This ensures that….” For outcomes: “As a result, the user sees…,” “This allows us to….” These phrases make your explanation easier to follow even if your accent or grammar is not perfect.

How do I explain design decisions and trade-offs in English?

Keep it simple and practical. Mention the goal (performance, readability, security, maintainability), the chosen approach, and the reason. For example: “We use a hash map here because it’s faster than searching the array each time.” Or: “We separated this into two functions to keep the code easier to test.” If there was an alternative, mention it briefly: “We could also do X, but it would increase complexity.” This style shows you understand not only how the code works, but why it was built this way.

How should I talk about edge cases and error handling?

Explain what can go wrong and how the code responds. Use phrases like “We handle cases where…,” “If the input is empty…,” “If the API call fails…,” and “We return an error response.” Mention safeguards: “We validate required fields to avoid runtime errors,” or “We use try/catch to handle unexpected failures.” If you did not handle a case, be honest and propose an improvement: “Currently, we don’t handle timeouts; we could add a retry strategy or fallback behavior.” This makes you sound careful and reliable.

How can I adjust my explanation for different audiences?

Change the level of detail, not the structure. For non-technical stakeholders, focus on outcome and impact: what the feature does, why it matters, and what changes for the user. For junior developers, explain the logic and “why” behind each step. For senior engineers, include architecture, trade-offs, performance, and security considerations. A useful rule is: if your listener asks “Why?”, add decisions and reasoning. If they ask “How?”, add step-by-step logic. If they ask “So what?”, add user impact.

What should I do if I get stuck while explaining?

Pause, summarize, and restart from a higher level. You can say, “Let me rephrase,” or “Let me step back and explain the main idea.” Then repeat the purpose and the three-step overview. If you forget a word, describe the idea differently: “It’s like a temporary storage” for “cache,” or “a background task runner” for “job queue.” You can also confirm understanding: “Does that make sense so far?” In many cases, clarity comes from structure, not perfect English.

How can I practice explaining my code in English efficiently?

Pick one small function per day and explain it in two minutes using the same framework: context, purpose, overview, logic, decisions, edge cases. Record yourself and listen for unclear parts. Replace long sentences with shorter ones. Create a reusable “phrase bank” for common actions (validate, parse, handle, return). Practice realistic scenarios: a stand-up update, a code review comment, and an interview-style explanation. Consistency matters more than speed; after a few weeks, you will feel more natural and confident.

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