diff --git a/src/primitives/transaction.h b/src/primitives/transaction.h
index 0fb7491de..1066601a1 100644
--- a/src/primitives/transaction.h
+++ b/src/primitives/transaction.h
@@ -651,6 +651,17 @@ public:
         return header;
     }
 
+    /*
+     * Context for the two methods below:
+     * As at most one of vpub_new and vpub_old is non-zero in every JoinSplit,
+     * we can think of a JoinSplit as an input or output according to which one
+     * it is (e.g. if vpub_new is non-zero the joinSplit is "giving value" to
+     * the outputs in the transaction). Similarly, we can think of the Sapling
+     * shielded part of the transaction as an input or output according to
+     * whether valueBalance - the sum of shielded input values minus the sum of
+     * shielded output values - is positive or negative.
+     */
+
     // Return sum of txouts, (negative valueBalance or zero) and JoinSplit vpub_old.
     CAmount GetValueOut() const;
     // GetValueIn() is a method on CCoinsViewCache, because