diff --git a/config/opcode-qldoc.py b/config/opcode-qldoc.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e379e6a3ea9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/opcode-qldoc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import os
+import re
+path = os.path
+
+needs_an_re = re.compile(r'^(?!Unary)[AEIOU]')  # Name requiring "an" instead of "a".
+start_qldoc_re = re.compile(r'^\s*/\*\*')  # Start of a QLDoc comment
+end_qldoc_re = re.compile(r'\*/\s*$')  # End of a QLDoc comment
+blank_qldoc_line_re = re.compile(r'^\s*\*\s*$')  # A line in a QLDoc comment with only the '*'
+instruction_class_re = re.compile(r'^class (?P<name>[A-aa-z0-9]+)Instruction\s')  # Declaration of an `Instruction` class
+opcode_base_class_re = re.compile(r'^abstract class (?P<name>[A-aa-z0-9]+)Opcode\s')  # Declaration of an `Opcode` base class
+opcode_class_re = re.compile(r'^  class (?P<name>[A-aa-z0-9]+)\s')  # Declaration of an `Opcode` class
+
+script_dir = path.realpath(path.dirname(__file__))
+instruction_path = path.realpath(path.join(script_dir, '../cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll'))
+opcode_path = path.realpath(path.join(script_dir, '../cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll'))
+
+# Scan `Instruction.qll`, keeping track of the QLDoc comment attached to each declaration of a class
+# whose name ends with `Instruction`.
+instruction_comments = {}
+in_qldoc = False
+saw_blank_line_in_qldoc = False
+qldoc_lines = []
+with open(instruction_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as instr:
+    for line in instr:
+        if in_qldoc:
+            if end_qldoc_re.search(line):
+                qldoc_lines.append(line)
+                in_qldoc = False
+            elif blank_qldoc_line_re.search(line):
+                # We're going to skip any lines after the first blank line, to avoid duplicating all
+                # of the verbose description.
+                saw_blank_line_in_qldoc = True
+            elif not saw_blank_line_in_qldoc:
+                qldoc_lines.append(line)
+        else:
+            if start_qldoc_re.search(line):
+                # Starting a new QLDoc comment.
+                saw_blank_line_in_qldoc = False
+                qldoc_lines.append(line)
+                if not end_qldoc_re.search(line):
+                    in_qldoc = True
+            else:
+                instruction_match = instruction_class_re.search(line)
+                if instruction_match:
+                    # Found the declaration of an `Instruction` class. Record the QLDoc comments.
+                    instruction_comments[instruction_match.group('name')] = qldoc_lines
+                qldoc_lines = []
+
+# Scan `Opcode.qll`. Whenever we see the declaration of an `Opcode` class for which we have a
+# corresponding `Instruction` class, we'll attach a copy of the `Instruction`'s QLDoc comment.
+in_qldoc = False
+qldoc_lines = []
+output_lines = []
+with open(opcode_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as opcode:
+    for line in opcode:
+        if in_qldoc:
+            qldoc_lines.append(line)
+            if end_qldoc_re.search(line):
+                in_qldoc = False
+        else:
+            if start_qldoc_re.search(line):
+                qldoc_lines.append(line)
+                if not end_qldoc_re.search(line):
+                    in_qldoc = True
+            else:
+                name_without_suffix = None
+                name = None
+                indent = ''
+                opcode_base_match = opcode_base_class_re.search(line)
+                if opcode_base_match:
+                    name_without_suffix = opcode_base_match.group('name')
+                    name = name_without_suffix + 'Opcode'
+                else:
+                    opcode_match = opcode_class_re.search(line)
+                    if opcode_match:
+                        name_without_suffix = opcode_match.group('name')
+                        name = name_without_suffix
+                        # Indent by two additional spaces, since opcodes are declared in the
+                        # `Opcode` module.
+                        indent = '  '
+                
+                if name_without_suffix:
+                    # Found an `Opcode` that matches a known `Instruction`. Replace the QLDoc with
+                    # a copy of the one from the `Instruction`.
+                    if instruction_comments.get(name_without_suffix):
+                        article = 'an' if needs_an_re.search(name_without_suffix) else 'a'
+                        qldoc_lines = [
+                            indent + '/**\n',
+                            indent + ' * The `Opcode` for ' + article + ' `' + name_without_suffix + 'Instruction`.\n',
+                            indent + ' *\n',
+                            indent + ' * See the `' + name_without_suffix + 'Instruction` documentation for more details.\n',
+                            indent + ' */\n'
+                        ]
+                output_lines.extend(qldoc_lines)
+                qldoc_lines = []
+                output_lines.append(line)
+
+# Write out the updated `Opcode.qll`
+with open(opcode_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as opcode:
+    opcode.writelines(output_lines)
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IR.qll
index f019f20b6a8..381adad5e41 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,47 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the program.
+ *
+ * The IR is a representation of the semantics of the program, with very little dependence on the
+ * syntax that was used to write the program. For example, in C++, the statements `i += 1;`, `i++`,
+ * and `++i` all have the same semantic effect, but appear in the AST as three different types of
+ * `Expr` node. In the IR, all three statements are broken down into a sequence of fundamental
+ * operations similar to:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * r1(int*) = VariableAddress[i]  // Compute the address of variable `i`
+ * r2(int) = Load &:r1, m0  // Load the value of `i`
+ * r3(int) = Constant[1]  // An integer constant with the value `1`
+ * r4(int) = Add r2, r3  // Add `1` to the value of `i`
+ * r5(int) = Store &r1, r4  // Store the new value back into the variable `i`
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This allows IR-based analysis to focus on the fundamental operations, rather than having to be
+ * concerned with the various ways of expressing those operations in source code.
+ *
+ * The key classes in the IR are:
+ *
+ * - `IRFunction` - Contains the IR for an entire function definition, including all of that
+ *   function's `Instruction`s, `IRBlock`s, and `IRVariables`.
+ * - `Instruction` - A single operation in the IR. An instruction specifies the operation to be
+ *   performed, the operands that produce the inputs to that operation, and the type of the result
+ *   of the operation. Control flows from an `Instruction` to one of a set of successor
+ *   `Instruction`s.
+ * - `Operand` - An input value of an `Instruction`. All inputs of an `Instruction` are explicitly
+ *   represented as `Operand`s, even if the input was implicit in the source code. An `Operand` has
+ *   a link to the `Instruction` that consumes its value (its "use") and a link to the `Instruction`
+ *   that produces its value (its "definition").
+ * - `IRVariable` - A variable accessed by the IR for a particular function. An `IRVariable` is
+ *   created for each variable directly accessed by the function. In addition, `IRVariable`s are
+ *   created to represent certain temporary storage locations that do not have explicitly declared
+ *   variables in the source code, such as the return value of the function.
+ * - `IRBlock` - A "basic block" in the control flow graph of a function. An `IRBlock` contains a
+ *   sequence of instructions such that control flow can only enter the block at the first
+ *   instruction, and can only leave the block from the last instruction.
+ * - `IRType` - The type of a value accessed in the IR. Unlike the `Type` class in the AST, `IRType`
+ *   is language-neutral. For example, in C++, `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t` might all
+ *   be represented as the `IRType` `uint4`, a four-byte unsigned integer.
+ */
+
 // Most queries should operate on the aliased SSA IR, so that's what we expose
-// publically as the "IR".
+// publicly as the "IR".
 import implementation.aliased_ssa.IR
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IRConfiguration.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IRConfiguration.qll
index b5b7d7de7c2..b8abef8a547 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IRConfiguration.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/IRConfiguration.qll
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
+/**
+ * Module used to configure the IR generation process.
+ */
+
 import implementation.IRConfiguration
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/PrintIR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/PrintIR.qll
index 3ff80237635..c4ebf2f1eba 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/PrintIR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/PrintIR.qll
@@ -1 +1,11 @@
+/**
+ * Outputs a representation of the IR as a control flow graph.
+ *
+ * This file contains the actual implementation of `PrintIR.ql`. For test cases and very small
+ * databases, `PrintIR.ql` can be run directly to dump the IR for the entire database. For most
+ * uses, however, it is better to write a query that imports `PrintIR.qll`, extends
+ * `PrintIRConfiguration`, and overrides `shouldPrintFunction()` to select a subset of functions to
+ * dump.
+ */
+
 import implementation.aliased_ssa.PrintIR
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll
index 54059fb5b82..32e36bb6787 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that specify the conditions under which control flows along a given edge.
+ */
+
 private import internal.EdgeKindInternal
 
 private newtype TEdgeKind =
@@ -77,9 +81,15 @@ class CaseEdge extends EdgeKind, TCaseEdge {
     else result = "Case[" + minValue + ".." + maxValue + "]"
   }
 
-  string getMinValue() { result = minValue }
+  /**
+   * Gets the smallest value of the switch expression for which control will flow along this edge.
+   */
+  final string getMinValue() { result = minValue }
 
-  string getMaxValue() { result = maxValue }
+  /**
+   * Gets the largest value of the switch expression for which control will flow along this edge.
+   */
+  final string getMaxValue() { result = maxValue }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll
index 71bc8ec2b0f..37ac2fccdd9 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ private newtype TIRConfiguration = MkIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions have IR generated for them.
  */
 class IRConfiguration extends TIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -17,6 +18,13 @@ class IRConfiguration extends TIRConfiguration {
    */
   predicate shouldCreateIRForFunction(Language::Function func) { any() }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if the strings used as part of an IR dump should be generated for function `func`.
+   *
+   * This predicate is overridden in `PrintIR.qll` to avoid the expense of generating a large number
+   * of debug strings for IR that will not be dumped. We still generate the actual IR for these
+   * functions, however, to preserve the results of any interprocedural analysis.
+   */
   predicate shouldEvaluateDebugStringsForFunction(Language::Function func) { any() }
 }
 
@@ -26,6 +34,7 @@ private newtype TIREscapeAnalysisConfiguration = MkIREscapeAnalysisConfiguration
  * The query can extend this class to control what escape analysis is used when generating SSA.
  */
 class IREscapeAnalysisConfiguration extends TIREscapeAnalysisConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IREscapeAnalysisConfiguration" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRType.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRType.qll
index dec78b413b3..41c9ac06d82 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRType.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/IRType.qll
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ private newtype TIRType =
  * all pointer types map to the same instance of `IRAddressType`.
  */
 class IRType extends TIRType {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this type. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll
index 6852a965401..5e11a310e2f 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe how a particular `Instruction` or its operands access memory.
+ */
+
+private import IRConfiguration
+
 private newtype TMemoryAccessKind =
   TIndirectMemoryAccess() or
   TBufferMemoryAccess() or
@@ -14,6 +20,7 @@ private newtype TMemoryAccessKind =
  * memory result.
  */
 class MemoryAccessKind extends TMemoryAccessKind {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this access kind. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll
index c0b8adbe56b..c4134d240ab 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides `Opcode`s that specify the operation performed by an `Instruction`, as well as metadata
+ * about those opcodes, such as operand kinds and memory accesses.
+ */
+
 private import internal.OpcodeImports as Imports
 private import internal.OperandTag
 import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
@@ -45,7 +50,7 @@ private newtype TOpcode =
   TConvertToDerived() or
   TCheckedConvertOrNull() or
   TCheckedConvertOrThrow() or
-  TDynamicCastToVoid() or
+  TCompleteObjectAddress() or
   TVariableAddress() or
   TFieldAddress() or
   TFunctionAddress() or
@@ -86,7 +91,11 @@ private newtype TOpcode =
   TUnreached() or
   TNewObj()
 
+/**
+ * An opcode that specifies the operation performed by an `Instruction`.
+ */
 class Opcode extends TOpcode {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "UnknownOpcode" }
 
   /**
@@ -139,10 +148,20 @@ class Opcode extends TOpcode {
   predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) { none() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `UnaryInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `UnaryInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class UnaryOpcode extends Opcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) { tag instanceof UnaryOperandTag }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BinaryInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BinaryInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BinaryOpcode extends Opcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) {
     tag instanceof LeftOperandTag or
@@ -150,44 +169,127 @@ abstract class BinaryOpcode extends Opcode {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `PointerArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `PointerArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class PointerArithmeticOpcode extends BinaryOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `PointerOffsetInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `PointerOffsetInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class PointerOffsetOpcode extends PointerArithmeticOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for an `ArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ArithmeticOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BinaryArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BinaryArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BinaryArithmeticOpcode extends BinaryOpcode, ArithmeticOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `UnaryArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `UnaryArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class UnaryArithmeticOpcode extends UnaryOpcode, ArithmeticOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BitwiseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BitwiseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BitwiseOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BinaryBitwiseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BinaryBitwiseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BinaryBitwiseOpcode extends BinaryOpcode, BitwiseOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `UnaryBitwiseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `UnaryBitwiseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class UnaryBitwiseOpcode extends UnaryOpcode, BitwiseOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `CompareInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `CompareInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class CompareOpcode extends BinaryOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `RelationalInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `RelationalInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class RelationalOpcode extends CompareOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `CopyInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `CopyInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class CopyOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToBaseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ConvertToBaseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ConvertToBaseOpcode extends UnaryOpcode { }
 
-abstract class MemoryAccessOpcode extends Opcode { }
-
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ReturnInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ReturnOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ThrowInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ThrowInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ThrowOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `CatchInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `CatchInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class CatchOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
-abstract class OpcodeWithCondition extends Opcode {
+abstract private class OpcodeWithCondition extends Opcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) { tag instanceof ConditionOperandTag }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BuiltInOperationInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BuiltInOperationInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BuiltInOperationOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `SideEffectInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `SideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class SideEffectOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
 /**
@@ -323,7 +425,9 @@ abstract class OpcodeWithLoad extends IndirectReadOpcode {
 }
 
 /**
- * An opcode that reads from a set of memory locations as a side effect.
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
  */
 abstract class ReadSideEffectOpcode extends SideEffectOpcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) {
@@ -332,51 +436,111 @@ abstract class ReadSideEffectOpcode extends SideEffectOpcode {
 }
 
 /**
- * An opcode that writes to a set of memory locations as a side effect.
+ * The `Opcode` for a `WriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `WriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
  */
 abstract class WriteSideEffectOpcode extends SideEffectOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * Provides `Opcode`s that specify the operation performed by an `Instruction`.
+ */
 module Opcode {
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NoOpInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NoOpInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class NoOp extends Opcode, TNoOp {
     final override string toString() { result = "NoOp" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `UninitializedInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `UninitializedInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Uninitialized extends IndirectWriteOpcode, TUninitialized {
     final override string toString() { result = "Uninitialized" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `ErrorInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ErrorInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Error extends Opcode, TError {
     final override string toString() { result = "Error" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeParameterInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeParameterInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeParameter extends IndirectWriteOpcode, TInitializeParameter {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeParameter" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeIndirectionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeIndirectionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeIndirection extends EntireAllocationWriteOpcode, TInitializeIndirection {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeIndirection" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeThisInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeThisInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeThis extends Opcode, TInitializeThis {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeThis" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `EnterFunctionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `EnterFunctionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class EnterFunction extends Opcode, TEnterFunction {
     final override string toString() { result = "EnterFunction" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `ExitFunctionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ExitFunctionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ExitFunction extends Opcode, TExitFunction {
     final override string toString() { result = "ExitFunction" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnValueInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReturnValueInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReturnValue extends ReturnOpcode, OpcodeWithLoad, TReturnValue {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReturnValue" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnVoidInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReturnVoidInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReturnVoid extends ReturnOpcode, TReturnVoid {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReturnVoid" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnIndirectionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReturnIndirectionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReturnIndirection extends EntireAllocationReadOpcode, TReturnIndirection {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReturnIndirection" }
 
@@ -385,14 +549,29 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CopyValueInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CopyValueInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CopyValue extends UnaryOpcode, CopyOpcode, TCopyValue {
     final override string toString() { result = "CopyValue" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `LoadInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `LoadInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Load extends CopyOpcode, OpcodeWithLoad, TLoad {
     final override string toString() { result = "Load" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `StoreInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `StoreInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Store extends CopyOpcode, IndirectWriteOpcode, TStore {
     final override string toString() { result = "Store" }
 
@@ -401,154 +580,344 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `AddInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `AddInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Add extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TAdd {
     final override string toString() { result = "Add" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SubInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SubInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Sub extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TSub {
     final override string toString() { result = "Sub" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `MulInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `MulInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Mul extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TMul {
     final override string toString() { result = "Mul" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `DivInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `DivInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Div extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TDiv {
     final override string toString() { result = "Div" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `RemInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `RemInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Rem extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TRem {
     final override string toString() { result = "Rem" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NegateInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NegateInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Negate extends UnaryArithmeticOpcode, TNegate {
     final override string toString() { result = "Negate" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ShiftLeftInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ShiftLeftInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ShiftLeft extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TShiftLeft {
     final override string toString() { result = "ShiftLeft" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ShiftRightInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ShiftRightInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ShiftRight extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TShiftRight {
     final override string toString() { result = "ShiftRight" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitAndInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitAndInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitAnd extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitAnd {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitAnd" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitOrInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitOrInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitOr extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitOr {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitOr" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitXorInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitXorInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitXor extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitXor {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitXor" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitComplementInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitComplementInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitComplement extends UnaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitComplement {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitComplement" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `LogicalNotInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `LogicalNotInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class LogicalNot extends UnaryOpcode, TLogicalNot {
     final override string toString() { result = "LogicalNot" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareEQInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareEQInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareEQ extends CompareOpcode, TCompareEQ {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareEQ" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareNEInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareNEInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareNE extends CompareOpcode, TCompareNE {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareNE" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareLTInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareLTInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareLT extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareLT {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareLT" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareGTInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareGTInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareGT extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareGT {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareGT" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareLEInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareLEInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareLE extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareLE {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareLE" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareGEInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareGEInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareGE extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareGE {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareGE" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PointerAddInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PointerAddInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class PointerAdd extends PointerOffsetOpcode, TPointerAdd {
     final override string toString() { result = "PointerAdd" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PointerSubInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PointerSubInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class PointerSub extends PointerOffsetOpcode, TPointerSub {
     final override string toString() { result = "PointerSub" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PointerDiffInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PointerDiffInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class PointerDiff extends PointerArithmeticOpcode, TPointerDiff {
     final override string toString() { result = "PointerDiff" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Convert extends UnaryOpcode, TConvert {
     final override string toString() { result = "Convert" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToNonVirtualBaseInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertToNonVirtualBaseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConvertToNonVirtualBase extends ConvertToBaseOpcode, TConvertToNonVirtualBase {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConvertToNonVirtualBase" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToVirtualBaseInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertToVirtualBaseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConvertToVirtualBase extends ConvertToBaseOpcode, TConvertToVirtualBase {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConvertToVirtualBase" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToDerivedInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertToDerivedInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConvertToDerived extends UnaryOpcode, TConvertToDerived {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConvertToDerived" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CheckedConvertOrNullInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CheckedConvertOrNullInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CheckedConvertOrNull extends UnaryOpcode, TCheckedConvertOrNull {
     final override string toString() { result = "CheckedConvertOrNull" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CheckedConvertOrThrow extends UnaryOpcode, TCheckedConvertOrThrow {
     final override string toString() { result = "CheckedConvertOrThrow" }
   }
 
-  class DynamicCastToVoid extends UnaryOpcode, TDynamicCastToVoid {
-    final override string toString() { result = "DynamicCastToVoid" }
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompleteObjectAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompleteObjectAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
+  class CompleteObjectAddress extends UnaryOpcode, TCompleteObjectAddress {
+    final override string toString() { result = "CompleteObjectAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VariableAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VariableAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VariableAddress extends Opcode, TVariableAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "VariableAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `FieldAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `FieldAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class FieldAddress extends UnaryOpcode, TFieldAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "FieldAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `ElementsAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ElementsAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ElementsAddress extends UnaryOpcode, TElementsAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "ElementsAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `FunctionAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `FunctionAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class FunctionAddress extends Opcode, TFunctionAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "FunctionAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConstantInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConstantInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Constant extends Opcode, TConstant {
     final override string toString() { result = "Constant" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `StringConstantInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `StringConstantInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class StringConstant extends Opcode, TStringConstant {
     final override string toString() { result = "StringConstant" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConditionalBranchInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConditionalBranchInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConditionalBranch extends OpcodeWithCondition, TConditionalBranch {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConditionalBranch" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SwitchInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SwitchInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Switch extends OpcodeWithCondition, TSwitch {
     final override string toString() { result = "Switch" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CallInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CallInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Call extends Opcode, TCall {
     final override string toString() { result = "Call" }
 
@@ -557,32 +926,67 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CatchByTypeInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CatchByTypeInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CatchByType extends CatchOpcode, TCatchByType {
     final override string toString() { result = "CatchByType" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CatchAnyInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CatchAnyInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CatchAny extends CatchOpcode, TCatchAny {
     final override string toString() { result = "CatchAny" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ThrowValueInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ThrowValueInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ThrowValue extends ThrowOpcode, OpcodeWithLoad, TThrowValue {
     final override string toString() { result = "ThrowValue" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReThrowInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReThrowInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReThrow extends ThrowOpcode, TReThrow {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReThrow" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `UnwindInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `UnwindInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Unwind extends Opcode, TUnwind {
     final override string toString() { result = "Unwind" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `AliasedDefinitionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `AliasedDefinitionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class AliasedDefinition extends Opcode, TAliasedDefinition {
     final override string toString() { result = "AliasedDefinition" }
 
     final override MemoryAccessKind getWriteMemoryAccess() { result instanceof EscapedMemoryAccess }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeNonLocalInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeNonLocalInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeNonLocal extends Opcode, TInitializeNonLocal {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeNonLocal" }
 
@@ -591,6 +995,11 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `AliasedUseInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `AliasedUseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class AliasedUse extends Opcode, TAliasedUse {
     final override string toString() { result = "AliasedUse" }
 
@@ -601,92 +1010,187 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PhiInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PhiInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Phi extends Opcode, TPhi {
     final override string toString() { result = "Phi" }
 
     final override MemoryAccessKind getWriteMemoryAccess() { result instanceof PhiMemoryAccess }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BuiltInInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BuiltInInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BuiltIn extends BuiltInOperationOpcode, TBuiltIn {
     final override string toString() { result = "BuiltIn" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VarArgsStartInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VarArgsStartInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VarArgsStart extends UnaryOpcode, TVarArgsStart {
     final override string toString() { result = "VarArgsStart" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VarArgsEndInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VarArgsEndInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VarArgsEnd extends UnaryOpcode, TVarArgsEnd {
     final override string toString() { result = "VarArgsEnd" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VarArgInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VarArgInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VarArg extends UnaryOpcode, TVarArg {
     final override string toString() { result = "VarArg" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NextVarArgInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NextVarArgInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class NextVarArg extends UnaryOpcode, TNextVarArg {
     final override string toString() { result = "NextVarArg" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CallSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CallSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CallSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, EscapedWriteOpcode, MayWriteOpcode,
     ReadSideEffectOpcode, EscapedReadOpcode, MayReadOpcode, TCallSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "CallSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CallReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CallReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CallReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, EscapedReadOpcode, MayReadOpcode,
     TCallReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "CallReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `IndirectReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `IndirectReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class IndirectReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, IndirectReadOpcode,
     TIndirectReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "IndirectReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `IndirectMustWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `IndirectMustWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class IndirectMustWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, IndirectWriteOpcode,
     TIndirectMustWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "IndirectMustWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class IndirectMayWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, IndirectWriteOpcode,
     MayWriteOpcode, TIndirectMayWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "IndirectMayWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BufferReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BufferReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BufferReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, UnsizedBufferReadOpcode,
     TBufferReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "BufferReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BufferMustWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, UnsizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     TBufferMustWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "BufferMustWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BufferMayWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, UnsizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     MayWriteOpcode, TBufferMayWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "BufferMayWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class SizedBufferReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, SizedBufferReadOpcode,
     TSizedBufferReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "SizedBufferReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, SizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     TSizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, SizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     MayWriteOpcode, TSizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeDynamicAllocation extends SideEffectOpcode, EntireAllocationWriteOpcode,
     TInitializeDynamicAllocation {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeDynamicAllocation" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ChiInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ChiInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Chi extends Opcode, TChi {
     final override string toString() { result = "Chi" }
 
@@ -701,6 +1205,11 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InlineAsmInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InlineAsmInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InlineAsm extends Opcode, EscapedWriteOpcode, MayWriteOpcode, EscapedReadOpcode,
     MayReadOpcode, TInlineAsm {
     final override string toString() { result = "InlineAsm" }
@@ -710,10 +1219,20 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `UnreachedInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `UnreachedInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Unreached extends Opcode, TUnreached {
     final override string toString() { result = "Unreached" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NewObjInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NewObjInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class NewObj extends Opcode, TNewObj {
     final override string toString() { result = "NewObj" }
   }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll
index a0c0ca67530..5f230de560d 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ private import Imports::TempVariableTag
  * computed on each branch. The set of possible `TempVariableTag`s is language-dependent.
  */
 class TempVariableTag extends TTempVariableTag {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this tag. */
   string toString() { result = getTempVariableTagId(this) }
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IR.qll
index badd48552a5..3fa0f1b78be 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,47 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the program.
+ *
+ * The IR is a representation of the semantics of the program, with very little dependence on the
+ * syntax that was used to write the program. For example, in C++, the statements `i += 1;`, `i++`,
+ * and `++i` all have the same semantic effect, but appear in the AST as three different types of
+ * `Expr` node. In the IR, all three statements are broken down into a sequence of fundamental
+ * operations similar to:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * r1(int*) = VariableAddress[i]  // Compute the address of variable `i`
+ * r2(int) = Load &:r1, m0  // Load the value of `i`
+ * r3(int) = Constant[1]  // An integer constant with the value `1`
+ * r4(int) = Add r2, r3  // Add `1` to the value of `i`
+ * r5(int) = Store &r1, r4  // Store the new value back into the variable `i`
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This allows IR-based analysis to focus on the fundamental operations, rather than having to be
+ * concerned with the various ways of expressing those operations in source code.
+ *
+ * The key classes in the IR are:
+ *
+ * - `IRFunction` - Contains the IR for an entire function definition, including all of that
+ *   function's `Instruction`s, `IRBlock`s, and `IRVariables`.
+ * - `Instruction` - A single operation in the IR. An instruction specifies the operation to be
+ *   performed, the operands that produce the inputs to that operation, and the type of the result
+ *   of the operation. Control flows from an `Instruction` to one of a set of successor
+ *   `Instruction`s.
+ * - `Operand` - An input value of an `Instruction`. All inputs of an `Instruction` are explicitly
+ *   represented as `Operand`s, even if the input was implicit in the source code. An `Operand` has
+ *   a link to the `Instruction` that consumes its value (its "use") and a link to the `Instruction`
+ *   that produces its value (its "definition").
+ * - `IRVariable` - A variable accessed by the IR for a particular function. An `IRVariable` is
+ *   created for each variable directly accessed by the function. In addition, `IRVariable`s are
+ *   created to represent certain temporary storage locations that do not have explicitly declared
+ *   variables in the source code, such as the return value of the function.
+ * - `IRBlock` - A "basic block" in the control flow graph of a function. An `IRBlock` contains a
+ *   sequence of instructions such that control flow can only enter the block at the first
+ *   instruction, and can only leave the block from the last instruction.
+ * - `IRType` - The type of a value accessed in the IR. Unlike the `Type` class in the AST, `IRType`
+ *   is language-neutral. For example, in C++, `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t` might all
+ *   be represented as the `IRType` `uint4`, a four-byte unsigned integer.
+ */
+
 import IRFunction
 import Instruction
 import IRBlock
@@ -11,11 +55,12 @@ import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
 private newtype TIRPropertyProvider = MkIRPropertyProvider()
 
 /**
- * Class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
+ * A class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
  * the PrintIR module. Libraries that compute additional facts about IR elements can extend the
  * single instance of this class to specify the additional properties computed by the library.
  */
 class IRPropertyProvider extends TIRPropertyProvider {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRPropertyProvider" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
index 94ef73b2769..f0ec0683bd6 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes describing basic blocks in the IR of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import Instruction
 private import internal.IRBlockImports as Imports
@@ -16,15 +20,23 @@ private import Cached
  * Most consumers should use the class `IRBlock`.
  */
 class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this block. */
   final string toString() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).toString() }
 
+  /** Gets the source location of the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block. */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getFirstInstruction().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string that uniquely identifies this block within its enclosing function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getUniqueId() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).getUniqueId() }
 
   /**
-   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function. This is used
-   * by debugging and printing code only.
+   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
    */
   int getDisplayIndex() {
     exists(IRConfiguration::IRConfiguration config |
@@ -42,27 +54,51 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
       )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `index`th non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getInstruction(int index) { result = getInstruction(this, index) }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the `Phi` instructions that appear at the start of this block.
+   */
   final PhiInstruction getAPhiInstruction() {
     Construction::getPhiInstructionBlockStart(result) = getFirstInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the instructions in this block, including `Phi` instructions.
+   */
   final Instruction getAnInstruction() {
     result = getInstruction(_) or
     result = getAPhiInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getFirstInstruction() { result = getFirstInstruction(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the last instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getLastInstruction() { result = getInstruction(getInstructionCount() - 1) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the number of non-`Phi` instructions in this block.
+   */
   final int getInstructionCount() { result = getInstructionCount(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `IRFunction` that contains this block.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingIRFunction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `Function` that contains this block.
+   */
   final Language::Function getEnclosingFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingFunction()
   }
@@ -74,20 +110,57 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
  * instruction of another block.
  */
 class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks to which control flows directly from this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getASuccessor() { blockSuccessor(this, result) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks from which control flows directly to this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getAPredecessor() { blockSuccessor(result, this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along an edge of kind `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { blockSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along a back edge of kind
+   * `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getBackEdgeSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { backEdgeSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block immediately dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` immediate dominates block `B` if block `A` strictly dominates block `B` and block `B`
+   * is a direct successor of block `A`.
+   */
   final predicate immediatelyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block strictly dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` strictly dominates block `B` if block `A` dominates block `B` and blocks `A` and `B`
+   * are not the same block.
+   */
   final predicate strictlyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates+(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` dominates block `B` if any control flow path from the entry block of the function to
+   * block `B` must pass through block `A`. A block always dominates itself.
+   */
   final predicate dominates(IRBlock block) { strictlyDominates(block) or this = block }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the set of blocks on the dominance frontier of this block.
+   *
+   * The dominance frontier of block `A` is the set of blocks `B` such that block `A` does not
+   * dominate block `B`, but block `A` does dominate an immediate predecessor of block `B`.
+   */
   pragma[noinline]
   final IRBlock dominanceFrontier() {
     dominates(result.getAPredecessor()) and
@@ -95,7 +168,7 @@ class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry point of its function
+   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry block of its function.
    */
   final predicate isReachableFromFunctionEntry() {
     this = getEnclosingIRFunction().getEntryBlock() or
@@ -210,4 +283,4 @@ private module Cached {
     idominance(isEntryBlock/1, blockSuccessor/2)(_, dominator, block)
 }
 
-Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
+private Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
index 6b2d32af48c..5968e58f90b 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides the class `IRFunction`, which represents the Intermediate Representation for the
+ * definition of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import internal.IRFunctionImports as Imports
 import Imports::IRFunctionBase
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
index a01bd2dc79a..d317421c242 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent variables accessed by the IR.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import IRFunction
 private import internal.IRVariableImports as Imports
@@ -7,15 +11,11 @@ private import Imports::TTempVariableTag
 private import Imports::TIRVariable
 private import Imports::IRType
 
-IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Language::Function func, Language::Variable var) {
-  result.getVariable() = var and
-  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
-}
-
 /**
- * A variable referenced by the IR for a function. The variable may be a user-declared variable
- * (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated by the AST-to-IR translation
- * (`IRTempVariable`).
+ * A variable referenced by the IR for a function.
+ *
+ * The variable may be a user-declared variable (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated
+ * by the AST-to-IR translation (`IRTempVariable`).
  */
 class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
   Language::Function func;
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
     this = TIRDynamicInitializationFlag(func, _, _)
   }
 
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
@@ -162,20 +163,26 @@ class IRGeneratedVariable extends IRVariable {
 
   override string getUniqueId() { none() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string containing the source code location of the AST that generated this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getLocationString() {
     result =
       ast.getLocation().getStartLine().toString() + ":" +
         ast.getLocation().getStartColumn().toString()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the string that is combined with the location of the variable to generate the string
+   * representation of this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   string getBaseString() { none() }
 }
 
-IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Language::AST ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
-  result.getAST() = ast and
-  result.getTag() = tag
-}
-
 /**
  * A temporary variable introduced by IR construction. The most common examples are the variable
  * generated to hold the return value of a function, or the variable generated to hold the result of
@@ -190,6 +197,10 @@ class IRTempVariable extends IRGeneratedVariable, IRAutomaticVariable, TIRTempVa
     result = "Temp: " + Construction::getTempVariableUniqueId(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the "tag" object that differentiates this temporary variable from other temporary
+   * variables generated for the same AST.
+   */
   final TempVariableTag getTag() { result = tag }
 
   override string getBaseString() { result = "#temp" }
@@ -253,6 +264,9 @@ class IRStringLiteral extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRStringLiteral {
 
   final override string getBaseString() { result = "#string" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the AST of the string literal represented by this `IRStringLiteral`.
+   */
   final Language::StringLiteral getLiteral() { result = literal }
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +284,9 @@ class IRDynamicInitializationFlag extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRDynamicInitial
 
   final override string toString() { result = var.toString() + "#init" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets variable whose initialization is guarded by this flag.
+   */
   final Language::Variable getVariable() { result = var }
 
   final override string getUniqueId() {
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Instruction.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
index 79516f6780d..0d2ad2d3bea 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ class Instruction extends Construction::TStageInstruction {
     result = Raw::getInstructionUnconvertedResultExpression(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific type of the result produced by this instruction.
+   *
+   * Most consumers of the IR should use `getResultIRType()` instead. `getResultIRType()` uses a
+   * less complex, language-neutral type system in which all semantically equivalent types share the
+   * same `IRType` instance. For example, in C++, four different `Instruction`s might have three
+   * different values for `getResultLanguageType()`: `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t`,
+   * whereas all four instructions would have the same value for `getResultIRType()`, `uint4`.
+   */
   final Language::LanguageType getResultLanguageType() {
     result = Construction::getInstructionResultType(this)
   }
@@ -537,6 +546,18 @@ class VariableAddressInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   VariableAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VariableAddress }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of a function.
+ *
+ * This instruction returns the address of a function, including non-member functions, static member
+ * functions, and non-static member functions.
+ *
+ * The result has an `IRFunctionAddress` type.
+ */
+class FunctionAddressInstruction extends FunctionInstruction {
+  FunctionAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::FunctionAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes a parameter of the enclosing function with the value of the
  * corresponding argument passed by the caller.
@@ -553,6 +574,16 @@ class InitializeParameterInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   final Language::Parameter getParameter() { result = var.(IRUserVariable).getVariable() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that initializes all memory that existed before this function was called.
+ *
+ * This instruction provides a definition for memory that, because it was actually allocated and
+ * initialized elsewhere, would not otherwise have a definition in this function.
+ */
+class InitializeNonLocalInstruction extends Instruction {
+  InitializeNonLocalInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::InitializeNonLocal }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes the memory pointed to by a parameter of the enclosing function
  * with the value of that memory on entry to the function.
@@ -590,6 +621,25 @@ class FieldAddressInstruction extends FieldInstruction {
   final Instruction getObjectAddress() { result = getObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that computes the address of the first element of a managed array.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used for element access to C# arrays.
+ */
+class ElementsAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  ElementsAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::ElementsAddress }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final UnaryOperand getArrayObjectAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final Instruction getArrayObjectAddress() { result = getArrayObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that produces a well-defined but unknown result and has
  * unknown side effects, including side effects that are not conservatively
@@ -1137,8 +1187,14 @@ class PointerDiffInstruction extends PointerArithmeticInstruction {
 class UnaryInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnaryInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof UnaryOpcode }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final UnaryOperand getUnaryOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final Instruction getUnary() { result = getUnaryOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
@@ -1177,6 +1233,19 @@ class CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
   CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrThrow }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the complete object that contains the subobject
+ * pointed to by its operand.
+ *
+ * If the operand holds a null address, the result is a null address.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent `dyanmic_cast<void*>` in C++, which returns the pointer to
+ * the most-derived object.
+ */
+class CompleteObjectAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  CompleteObjectAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CompleteObjectAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that converts the address of an object to the address of a different subobject of
  * the same object, without any type checking at runtime.
@@ -1453,7 +1522,7 @@ class CallInstruction extends Instruction {
    * Gets the `Function` that the call targets, if this is statically known.
    */
   final Language::Function getStaticCallTarget() {
-    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
+    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionAddressInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1516,9 +1585,10 @@ class CallSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the side effect of a function call on any memory
- * that might be read by that call. This instruction is emitted instead of
- * `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it's certain that the call target cannot
- * write to escaped memory.
+ * that might be read by that call.
+ *
+ * This instruction is emitted instead of `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it is certain that the
+ * call target cannot write to escaped memory.
  */
 class CallReadSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
   CallReadSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CallReadSideEffect }
@@ -1566,7 +1636,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferReadSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1576,7 +1654,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
 class WriteSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction, IndexedInstruction {
   WriteSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof WriteSideEffectOpcode }
 
-  Instruction getArgumentDef() { result = getAnOperand().(AddressOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Get the operand that holds the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  final AddressOperand getDestinationAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  Instruction getDestinationAddress() { result = getDestinationAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1607,11 +1693,20 @@ class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructi
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the potential write of an indirect parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `IndirectWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the location might not be completely overwritten.
  * written.
  */
@@ -1623,6 +1718,7 @@ class IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1631,6 +1727,7 @@ class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1638,11 +1735,19 @@ class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructio
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, e.g. the result of a
+ * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, such as the result of a
  * call to `malloc`.
  */
 class InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1860,17 +1965,20 @@ class ChiInstruction extends Instruction {
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing unreachable code. Inserted in place of the original target
- * instruction of a `ConditionalBranch` or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is
- * infeasible.
+ * An instruction representing unreachable code.
+ *
+ * This instruction is inserted in place of the original target instruction of a `ConditionalBranch`
+ * or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is infeasible.
  */
 class UnreachedInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnreachedInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::Unreached }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing a built-in operation. This is used to represent
- * operations such as access to variable argument lists.
+ * An instruction representing a built-in operation.
+ *
+ * This is used to represent a variety of intrinsic operations provided by the compiler
+ * implementation, such as vector arithmetic.
  */
 class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
   Language::BuiltInOperation operation;
@@ -1880,6 +1988,10 @@ class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
     operation = Raw::getInstructionBuiltInOperation(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific `BuildInOperation` object that specifies the operation that is
+   * performed by this instruction.
+   */
   final Language::BuiltInOperation getBuiltInOperation() { result = operation }
 }
 
@@ -1892,3 +2004,59 @@ class BuiltInInstruction extends BuiltInOperationInstruction {
 
   final override string getImmediateString() { result = getBuiltInOperation().toString() }
 }
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns a `va_list` to access the arguments passed to the `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `IREllipsisVariable` used to represent the `...`
+ * parameter. The result is a `va_list` that initially refers to the first argument that was passed
+ * to the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class VarArgsStartInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsStartInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsStart }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that cleans up a `va_list` after it is no longer in use.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `va_list` to clean up. This instruction does not return
+ * a result.
+ */
+class VarArgsEndInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsEndInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsEnd }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the argument currently pointed to by a `va_list`.
+ *
+ * The operand is the `va_list` that points to the argument. The result is the address of the
+ * argument.
+ */
+class VarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that modifies a `va_list` to point to the next argument that was passed to the
+ * `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand is the current `va_list`. The result is an updated `va_list` that points to the next
+ * argument of the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class NextVarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  NextVarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NextVarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that allocates a new object on the managed heap.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent the allocation of a new object in C# using the `new`
+ * expression. This instruction does not invoke a constructor for the object. Instead, there will be
+ * a subsequent `Call` instruction to invoke the appropriate constructor directory, passing the
+ * result of the `NewObj` as the `this` argument.
+ *
+ * The result is the address of the newly allocated object.
+ */
+class NewObjInstruction extends Instruction {
+  NewObjInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NewObj }
+}
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Operand.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Operand.qll
index f82704094c8..468687b0aca 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Operand.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/Operand.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent the input values of IR instructions.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import Instruction
 private import IRBlock
@@ -78,10 +82,17 @@ private PhiOperandBase phiOperand(
  * A source operand of an `Instruction`. The operand represents a value consumed by the instruction.
  */
 class Operand extends TOperand {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "Operand" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the location of the source code for this operand.
+   */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getUse().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the function that contains this operand.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() { result = getUse().getEnclosingIRFunction() }
 
   /**
@@ -270,6 +281,9 @@ class NonPhiOperand extends Operand {
 
   final override int getDumpSortOrder() { result = tag.getSortOrder() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `OperandTag` that specifies how this operand is used by its `Instruction`.
+   */
   final OperandTag getOperandTag() { result = tag }
 }
 
@@ -292,6 +306,9 @@ class RegisterOperand extends NonPhiOperand, RegisterOperandBase {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand other than the operand of a `Phi` instruction.
+ */
 class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOperandBase {
   override MemoryOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -313,6 +330,9 @@ class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOper
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand whose type may be different from the type of the result of its definition.
+ */
 class TypedOperand extends NonPhiMemoryOperand {
   override TypedOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -416,6 +436,9 @@ class PositionalArgumentOperand extends ArgumentOperand {
   final int getIndex() { result = tag.getArgIndex() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An operand representing memory read as a side effect of evaluating another instruction.
+ */
 class SideEffectOperand extends TypedOperand {
   override SideEffectOperandTag tag;
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
index d9c0df44e12..b3e3a5b1195 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/aliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * Outputs a representation of the IR as a control flow graph.
+ *
+ * This file contains the actual implementation of `PrintIR.ql`. For test cases and very small
+ * databases, `PrintIR.ql` can be run directly to dump the IR for the entire database. For most
+ * uses, however, it is better to write a query that imports `PrintIR.qll`, extends
+ * `PrintIRConfiguration`, and overrides `shouldPrintFunction()` to select a subset of functions to
+ * dump.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import IR
 private import internal.PrintIRImports as Imports
@@ -9,6 +19,7 @@ private newtype TPrintIRConfiguration = MkPrintIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions are printed.
  */
 class PrintIRConfiguration extends TPrintIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this configuration. */
   string toString() { result = "PrintIRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -47,7 +58,7 @@ private newtype TPrintableIRNode =
 /**
  * A node to be emitted in the IR graph.
  */
-abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
+abstract private class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
   abstract string toString();
 
   /**
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing a `IRFunction` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
+private class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
   IRFunction irFunc;
 
   PrintableIRFunction() { this = TPrintableIRFunction(irFunc) }
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `IRBlock` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
+private class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
   IRBlock block;
 
   PrintableIRBlock() { this = TPrintableIRBlock(block) }
@@ -161,7 +172,7 @@ class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `Instruction`.
  */
-class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
+private class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
   Instruction instr;
 
   PrintableInstruction() { this = TPrintableInstruction(instr) }
@@ -224,6 +235,9 @@ private string getPaddingString(int n) {
   n > 0 and n <= maxColumnWidth() and result = getPaddingString(n - 1) + " "
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `node` belongs to the output graph, and its property `key` has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate nodes(PrintableIRNode node, string key, string value) {
   value = node.getProperty(key)
 }
@@ -237,6 +251,10 @@ private int getSuccessorIndex(IRBlock pred, IRBlock succ) {
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if the output graph contains an edge from `pred` to `succ`, and that edge's property `key`
+ * has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key, string value) {
   exists(EdgeKind kind, IRBlock predBlock, IRBlock succBlock |
     predBlock = pred.getBlock() and
@@ -256,6 +274,9 @@ query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key,
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `parent` is the parent node of `child` in the output graph.
+ */
 query predicate parents(PrintableIRNode child, PrintableIRNode parent) {
   parent = child.getParent()
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll
index badd48552a5..3fa0f1b78be 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,47 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the program.
+ *
+ * The IR is a representation of the semantics of the program, with very little dependence on the
+ * syntax that was used to write the program. For example, in C++, the statements `i += 1;`, `i++`,
+ * and `++i` all have the same semantic effect, but appear in the AST as three different types of
+ * `Expr` node. In the IR, all three statements are broken down into a sequence of fundamental
+ * operations similar to:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * r1(int*) = VariableAddress[i]  // Compute the address of variable `i`
+ * r2(int) = Load &:r1, m0  // Load the value of `i`
+ * r3(int) = Constant[1]  // An integer constant with the value `1`
+ * r4(int) = Add r2, r3  // Add `1` to the value of `i`
+ * r5(int) = Store &r1, r4  // Store the new value back into the variable `i`
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This allows IR-based analysis to focus on the fundamental operations, rather than having to be
+ * concerned with the various ways of expressing those operations in source code.
+ *
+ * The key classes in the IR are:
+ *
+ * - `IRFunction` - Contains the IR for an entire function definition, including all of that
+ *   function's `Instruction`s, `IRBlock`s, and `IRVariables`.
+ * - `Instruction` - A single operation in the IR. An instruction specifies the operation to be
+ *   performed, the operands that produce the inputs to that operation, and the type of the result
+ *   of the operation. Control flows from an `Instruction` to one of a set of successor
+ *   `Instruction`s.
+ * - `Operand` - An input value of an `Instruction`. All inputs of an `Instruction` are explicitly
+ *   represented as `Operand`s, even if the input was implicit in the source code. An `Operand` has
+ *   a link to the `Instruction` that consumes its value (its "use") and a link to the `Instruction`
+ *   that produces its value (its "definition").
+ * - `IRVariable` - A variable accessed by the IR for a particular function. An `IRVariable` is
+ *   created for each variable directly accessed by the function. In addition, `IRVariable`s are
+ *   created to represent certain temporary storage locations that do not have explicitly declared
+ *   variables in the source code, such as the return value of the function.
+ * - `IRBlock` - A "basic block" in the control flow graph of a function. An `IRBlock` contains a
+ *   sequence of instructions such that control flow can only enter the block at the first
+ *   instruction, and can only leave the block from the last instruction.
+ * - `IRType` - The type of a value accessed in the IR. Unlike the `Type` class in the AST, `IRType`
+ *   is language-neutral. For example, in C++, `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t` might all
+ *   be represented as the `IRType` `uint4`, a four-byte unsigned integer.
+ */
+
 import IRFunction
 import Instruction
 import IRBlock
@@ -11,11 +55,12 @@ import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
 private newtype TIRPropertyProvider = MkIRPropertyProvider()
 
 /**
- * Class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
+ * A class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
  * the PrintIR module. Libraries that compute additional facts about IR elements can extend the
  * single instance of this class to specify the additional properties computed by the library.
  */
 class IRPropertyProvider extends TIRPropertyProvider {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRPropertyProvider" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll
index 94ef73b2769..f0ec0683bd6 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes describing basic blocks in the IR of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import Instruction
 private import internal.IRBlockImports as Imports
@@ -16,15 +20,23 @@ private import Cached
  * Most consumers should use the class `IRBlock`.
  */
 class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this block. */
   final string toString() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).toString() }
 
+  /** Gets the source location of the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block. */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getFirstInstruction().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string that uniquely identifies this block within its enclosing function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getUniqueId() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).getUniqueId() }
 
   /**
-   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function. This is used
-   * by debugging and printing code only.
+   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
    */
   int getDisplayIndex() {
     exists(IRConfiguration::IRConfiguration config |
@@ -42,27 +54,51 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
       )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `index`th non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getInstruction(int index) { result = getInstruction(this, index) }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the `Phi` instructions that appear at the start of this block.
+   */
   final PhiInstruction getAPhiInstruction() {
     Construction::getPhiInstructionBlockStart(result) = getFirstInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the instructions in this block, including `Phi` instructions.
+   */
   final Instruction getAnInstruction() {
     result = getInstruction(_) or
     result = getAPhiInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getFirstInstruction() { result = getFirstInstruction(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the last instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getLastInstruction() { result = getInstruction(getInstructionCount() - 1) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the number of non-`Phi` instructions in this block.
+   */
   final int getInstructionCount() { result = getInstructionCount(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `IRFunction` that contains this block.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingIRFunction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `Function` that contains this block.
+   */
   final Language::Function getEnclosingFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingFunction()
   }
@@ -74,20 +110,57 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
  * instruction of another block.
  */
 class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks to which control flows directly from this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getASuccessor() { blockSuccessor(this, result) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks from which control flows directly to this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getAPredecessor() { blockSuccessor(result, this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along an edge of kind `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { blockSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along a back edge of kind
+   * `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getBackEdgeSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { backEdgeSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block immediately dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` immediate dominates block `B` if block `A` strictly dominates block `B` and block `B`
+   * is a direct successor of block `A`.
+   */
   final predicate immediatelyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block strictly dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` strictly dominates block `B` if block `A` dominates block `B` and blocks `A` and `B`
+   * are not the same block.
+   */
   final predicate strictlyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates+(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` dominates block `B` if any control flow path from the entry block of the function to
+   * block `B` must pass through block `A`. A block always dominates itself.
+   */
   final predicate dominates(IRBlock block) { strictlyDominates(block) or this = block }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the set of blocks on the dominance frontier of this block.
+   *
+   * The dominance frontier of block `A` is the set of blocks `B` such that block `A` does not
+   * dominate block `B`, but block `A` does dominate an immediate predecessor of block `B`.
+   */
   pragma[noinline]
   final IRBlock dominanceFrontier() {
     dominates(result.getAPredecessor()) and
@@ -95,7 +168,7 @@ class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry point of its function
+   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry block of its function.
    */
   final predicate isReachableFromFunctionEntry() {
     this = getEnclosingIRFunction().getEntryBlock() or
@@ -210,4 +283,4 @@ private module Cached {
     idominance(isEntryBlock/1, blockSuccessor/2)(_, dominator, block)
 }
 
-Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
+private Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll
index 6b2d32af48c..5968e58f90b 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides the class `IRFunction`, which represents the Intermediate Representation for the
+ * definition of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import internal.IRFunctionImports as Imports
 import Imports::IRFunctionBase
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll
index a01bd2dc79a..d317421c242 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent variables accessed by the IR.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import IRFunction
 private import internal.IRVariableImports as Imports
@@ -7,15 +11,11 @@ private import Imports::TTempVariableTag
 private import Imports::TIRVariable
 private import Imports::IRType
 
-IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Language::Function func, Language::Variable var) {
-  result.getVariable() = var and
-  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
-}
-
 /**
- * A variable referenced by the IR for a function. The variable may be a user-declared variable
- * (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated by the AST-to-IR translation
- * (`IRTempVariable`).
+ * A variable referenced by the IR for a function.
+ *
+ * The variable may be a user-declared variable (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated
+ * by the AST-to-IR translation (`IRTempVariable`).
  */
 class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
   Language::Function func;
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
     this = TIRDynamicInitializationFlag(func, _, _)
   }
 
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
@@ -162,20 +163,26 @@ class IRGeneratedVariable extends IRVariable {
 
   override string getUniqueId() { none() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string containing the source code location of the AST that generated this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getLocationString() {
     result =
       ast.getLocation().getStartLine().toString() + ":" +
         ast.getLocation().getStartColumn().toString()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the string that is combined with the location of the variable to generate the string
+   * representation of this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   string getBaseString() { none() }
 }
 
-IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Language::AST ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
-  result.getAST() = ast and
-  result.getTag() = tag
-}
-
 /**
  * A temporary variable introduced by IR construction. The most common examples are the variable
  * generated to hold the return value of a function, or the variable generated to hold the result of
@@ -190,6 +197,10 @@ class IRTempVariable extends IRGeneratedVariable, IRAutomaticVariable, TIRTempVa
     result = "Temp: " + Construction::getTempVariableUniqueId(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the "tag" object that differentiates this temporary variable from other temporary
+   * variables generated for the same AST.
+   */
   final TempVariableTag getTag() { result = tag }
 
   override string getBaseString() { result = "#temp" }
@@ -253,6 +264,9 @@ class IRStringLiteral extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRStringLiteral {
 
   final override string getBaseString() { result = "#string" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the AST of the string literal represented by this `IRStringLiteral`.
+   */
   final Language::StringLiteral getLiteral() { result = literal }
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +284,9 @@ class IRDynamicInitializationFlag extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRDynamicInitial
 
   final override string toString() { result = var.toString() + "#init" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets variable whose initialization is guarded by this flag.
+   */
   final Language::Variable getVariable() { result = var }
 
   final override string getUniqueId() {
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll
index 79516f6780d..0d2ad2d3bea 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ class Instruction extends Construction::TStageInstruction {
     result = Raw::getInstructionUnconvertedResultExpression(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific type of the result produced by this instruction.
+   *
+   * Most consumers of the IR should use `getResultIRType()` instead. `getResultIRType()` uses a
+   * less complex, language-neutral type system in which all semantically equivalent types share the
+   * same `IRType` instance. For example, in C++, four different `Instruction`s might have three
+   * different values for `getResultLanguageType()`: `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t`,
+   * whereas all four instructions would have the same value for `getResultIRType()`, `uint4`.
+   */
   final Language::LanguageType getResultLanguageType() {
     result = Construction::getInstructionResultType(this)
   }
@@ -537,6 +546,18 @@ class VariableAddressInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   VariableAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VariableAddress }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of a function.
+ *
+ * This instruction returns the address of a function, including non-member functions, static member
+ * functions, and non-static member functions.
+ *
+ * The result has an `IRFunctionAddress` type.
+ */
+class FunctionAddressInstruction extends FunctionInstruction {
+  FunctionAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::FunctionAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes a parameter of the enclosing function with the value of the
  * corresponding argument passed by the caller.
@@ -553,6 +574,16 @@ class InitializeParameterInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   final Language::Parameter getParameter() { result = var.(IRUserVariable).getVariable() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that initializes all memory that existed before this function was called.
+ *
+ * This instruction provides a definition for memory that, because it was actually allocated and
+ * initialized elsewhere, would not otherwise have a definition in this function.
+ */
+class InitializeNonLocalInstruction extends Instruction {
+  InitializeNonLocalInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::InitializeNonLocal }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes the memory pointed to by a parameter of the enclosing function
  * with the value of that memory on entry to the function.
@@ -590,6 +621,25 @@ class FieldAddressInstruction extends FieldInstruction {
   final Instruction getObjectAddress() { result = getObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that computes the address of the first element of a managed array.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used for element access to C# arrays.
+ */
+class ElementsAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  ElementsAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::ElementsAddress }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final UnaryOperand getArrayObjectAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final Instruction getArrayObjectAddress() { result = getArrayObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that produces a well-defined but unknown result and has
  * unknown side effects, including side effects that are not conservatively
@@ -1137,8 +1187,14 @@ class PointerDiffInstruction extends PointerArithmeticInstruction {
 class UnaryInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnaryInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof UnaryOpcode }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final UnaryOperand getUnaryOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final Instruction getUnary() { result = getUnaryOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
@@ -1177,6 +1233,19 @@ class CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
   CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrThrow }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the complete object that contains the subobject
+ * pointed to by its operand.
+ *
+ * If the operand holds a null address, the result is a null address.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent `dyanmic_cast<void*>` in C++, which returns the pointer to
+ * the most-derived object.
+ */
+class CompleteObjectAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  CompleteObjectAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CompleteObjectAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that converts the address of an object to the address of a different subobject of
  * the same object, without any type checking at runtime.
@@ -1453,7 +1522,7 @@ class CallInstruction extends Instruction {
    * Gets the `Function` that the call targets, if this is statically known.
    */
   final Language::Function getStaticCallTarget() {
-    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
+    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionAddressInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1516,9 +1585,10 @@ class CallSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the side effect of a function call on any memory
- * that might be read by that call. This instruction is emitted instead of
- * `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it's certain that the call target cannot
- * write to escaped memory.
+ * that might be read by that call.
+ *
+ * This instruction is emitted instead of `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it is certain that the
+ * call target cannot write to escaped memory.
  */
 class CallReadSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
   CallReadSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CallReadSideEffect }
@@ -1566,7 +1636,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferReadSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1576,7 +1654,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
 class WriteSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction, IndexedInstruction {
   WriteSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof WriteSideEffectOpcode }
 
-  Instruction getArgumentDef() { result = getAnOperand().(AddressOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Get the operand that holds the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  final AddressOperand getDestinationAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  Instruction getDestinationAddress() { result = getDestinationAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1607,11 +1693,20 @@ class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructi
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the potential write of an indirect parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `IndirectWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the location might not be completely overwritten.
  * written.
  */
@@ -1623,6 +1718,7 @@ class IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1631,6 +1727,7 @@ class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1638,11 +1735,19 @@ class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructio
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, e.g. the result of a
+ * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, such as the result of a
  * call to `malloc`.
  */
 class InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1860,17 +1965,20 @@ class ChiInstruction extends Instruction {
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing unreachable code. Inserted in place of the original target
- * instruction of a `ConditionalBranch` or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is
- * infeasible.
+ * An instruction representing unreachable code.
+ *
+ * This instruction is inserted in place of the original target instruction of a `ConditionalBranch`
+ * or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is infeasible.
  */
 class UnreachedInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnreachedInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::Unreached }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing a built-in operation. This is used to represent
- * operations such as access to variable argument lists.
+ * An instruction representing a built-in operation.
+ *
+ * This is used to represent a variety of intrinsic operations provided by the compiler
+ * implementation, such as vector arithmetic.
  */
 class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
   Language::BuiltInOperation operation;
@@ -1880,6 +1988,10 @@ class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
     operation = Raw::getInstructionBuiltInOperation(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific `BuildInOperation` object that specifies the operation that is
+   * performed by this instruction.
+   */
   final Language::BuiltInOperation getBuiltInOperation() { result = operation }
 }
 
@@ -1892,3 +2004,59 @@ class BuiltInInstruction extends BuiltInOperationInstruction {
 
   final override string getImmediateString() { result = getBuiltInOperation().toString() }
 }
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns a `va_list` to access the arguments passed to the `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `IREllipsisVariable` used to represent the `...`
+ * parameter. The result is a `va_list` that initially refers to the first argument that was passed
+ * to the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class VarArgsStartInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsStartInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsStart }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that cleans up a `va_list` after it is no longer in use.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `va_list` to clean up. This instruction does not return
+ * a result.
+ */
+class VarArgsEndInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsEndInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsEnd }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the argument currently pointed to by a `va_list`.
+ *
+ * The operand is the `va_list` that points to the argument. The result is the address of the
+ * argument.
+ */
+class VarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that modifies a `va_list` to point to the next argument that was passed to the
+ * `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand is the current `va_list`. The result is an updated `va_list` that points to the next
+ * argument of the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class NextVarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  NextVarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NextVarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that allocates a new object on the managed heap.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent the allocation of a new object in C# using the `new`
+ * expression. This instruction does not invoke a constructor for the object. Instead, there will be
+ * a subsequent `Call` instruction to invoke the appropriate constructor directory, passing the
+ * result of the `NewObj` as the `this` argument.
+ *
+ * The result is the address of the newly allocated object.
+ */
+class NewObjInstruction extends Instruction {
+  NewObjInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NewObj }
+}
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll
index f82704094c8..468687b0aca 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent the input values of IR instructions.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import Instruction
 private import IRBlock
@@ -78,10 +82,17 @@ private PhiOperandBase phiOperand(
  * A source operand of an `Instruction`. The operand represents a value consumed by the instruction.
  */
 class Operand extends TOperand {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "Operand" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the location of the source code for this operand.
+   */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getUse().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the function that contains this operand.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() { result = getUse().getEnclosingIRFunction() }
 
   /**
@@ -270,6 +281,9 @@ class NonPhiOperand extends Operand {
 
   final override int getDumpSortOrder() { result = tag.getSortOrder() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `OperandTag` that specifies how this operand is used by its `Instruction`.
+   */
   final OperandTag getOperandTag() { result = tag }
 }
 
@@ -292,6 +306,9 @@ class RegisterOperand extends NonPhiOperand, RegisterOperandBase {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand other than the operand of a `Phi` instruction.
+ */
 class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOperandBase {
   override MemoryOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -313,6 +330,9 @@ class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOper
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand whose type may be different from the type of the result of its definition.
+ */
 class TypedOperand extends NonPhiMemoryOperand {
   override TypedOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -416,6 +436,9 @@ class PositionalArgumentOperand extends ArgumentOperand {
   final int getIndex() { result = tag.getArgIndex() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An operand representing memory read as a side effect of evaluating another instruction.
+ */
 class SideEffectOperand extends TypedOperand {
   override SideEffectOperandTag tag;
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll
index d9c0df44e12..b3e3a5b1195 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * Outputs a representation of the IR as a control flow graph.
+ *
+ * This file contains the actual implementation of `PrintIR.ql`. For test cases and very small
+ * databases, `PrintIR.ql` can be run directly to dump the IR for the entire database. For most
+ * uses, however, it is better to write a query that imports `PrintIR.qll`, extends
+ * `PrintIRConfiguration`, and overrides `shouldPrintFunction()` to select a subset of functions to
+ * dump.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import IR
 private import internal.PrintIRImports as Imports
@@ -9,6 +19,7 @@ private newtype TPrintIRConfiguration = MkPrintIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions are printed.
  */
 class PrintIRConfiguration extends TPrintIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this configuration. */
   string toString() { result = "PrintIRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -47,7 +58,7 @@ private newtype TPrintableIRNode =
 /**
  * A node to be emitted in the IR graph.
  */
-abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
+abstract private class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
   abstract string toString();
 
   /**
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing a `IRFunction` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
+private class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
   IRFunction irFunc;
 
   PrintableIRFunction() { this = TPrintableIRFunction(irFunc) }
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `IRBlock` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
+private class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
   IRBlock block;
 
   PrintableIRBlock() { this = TPrintableIRBlock(block) }
@@ -161,7 +172,7 @@ class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `Instruction`.
  */
-class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
+private class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
   Instruction instr;
 
   PrintableInstruction() { this = TPrintableInstruction(instr) }
@@ -224,6 +235,9 @@ private string getPaddingString(int n) {
   n > 0 and n <= maxColumnWidth() and result = getPaddingString(n - 1) + " "
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `node` belongs to the output graph, and its property `key` has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate nodes(PrintableIRNode node, string key, string value) {
   value = node.getProperty(key)
 }
@@ -237,6 +251,10 @@ private int getSuccessorIndex(IRBlock pred, IRBlock succ) {
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if the output graph contains an edge from `pred` to `succ`, and that edge's property `key`
+ * has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key, string value) {
   exists(EdgeKind kind, IRBlock predBlock, IRBlock succBlock |
     predBlock = pred.getBlock() and
@@ -256,6 +274,9 @@ query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key,
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `parent` is the parent node of `child` in the output graph.
+ */
 query predicate parents(PrintableIRNode child, PrintableIRNode parent) {
   parent = child.getParent()
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll
index 8bf5fa9d44b..f3c8816c19d 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll
@@ -24,6 +24,16 @@ private Element getRealParent(Expr expr) {
   result.(Destructor).getADestruction() = expr
 }
 
+IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Function func, Variable var) {
+  result.getVariable() = var and
+  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
+}
+
+IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Locatable ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
+  result.getAST() = ast and
+  result.getTag() = tag
+}
+
 /**
  * Holds if `expr` is a constant of a type that can be replaced directly with
  * its value in the IR. This does not include address constants as we have no
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedExpr.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedExpr.qll
index 75e70d1986f..98bcd1da8b2 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedExpr.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedExpr.qll
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ class TranslatedDynamicCast extends TranslatedSingleInstructionConversion {
       if resultType instanceof PointerType
       then
         if resultType.(PointerType).getBaseType() instanceof VoidType
-        then result instanceof Opcode::DynamicCastToVoid
+        then result instanceof Opcode::CompleteObjectAddress
         else result instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrNull
       else result instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrThrow
     )
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll
index badd48552a5..3fa0f1b78be 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,47 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the program.
+ *
+ * The IR is a representation of the semantics of the program, with very little dependence on the
+ * syntax that was used to write the program. For example, in C++, the statements `i += 1;`, `i++`,
+ * and `++i` all have the same semantic effect, but appear in the AST as three different types of
+ * `Expr` node. In the IR, all three statements are broken down into a sequence of fundamental
+ * operations similar to:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * r1(int*) = VariableAddress[i]  // Compute the address of variable `i`
+ * r2(int) = Load &:r1, m0  // Load the value of `i`
+ * r3(int) = Constant[1]  // An integer constant with the value `1`
+ * r4(int) = Add r2, r3  // Add `1` to the value of `i`
+ * r5(int) = Store &r1, r4  // Store the new value back into the variable `i`
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This allows IR-based analysis to focus on the fundamental operations, rather than having to be
+ * concerned with the various ways of expressing those operations in source code.
+ *
+ * The key classes in the IR are:
+ *
+ * - `IRFunction` - Contains the IR for an entire function definition, including all of that
+ *   function's `Instruction`s, `IRBlock`s, and `IRVariables`.
+ * - `Instruction` - A single operation in the IR. An instruction specifies the operation to be
+ *   performed, the operands that produce the inputs to that operation, and the type of the result
+ *   of the operation. Control flows from an `Instruction` to one of a set of successor
+ *   `Instruction`s.
+ * - `Operand` - An input value of an `Instruction`. All inputs of an `Instruction` are explicitly
+ *   represented as `Operand`s, even if the input was implicit in the source code. An `Operand` has
+ *   a link to the `Instruction` that consumes its value (its "use") and a link to the `Instruction`
+ *   that produces its value (its "definition").
+ * - `IRVariable` - A variable accessed by the IR for a particular function. An `IRVariable` is
+ *   created for each variable directly accessed by the function. In addition, `IRVariable`s are
+ *   created to represent certain temporary storage locations that do not have explicitly declared
+ *   variables in the source code, such as the return value of the function.
+ * - `IRBlock` - A "basic block" in the control flow graph of a function. An `IRBlock` contains a
+ *   sequence of instructions such that control flow can only enter the block at the first
+ *   instruction, and can only leave the block from the last instruction.
+ * - `IRType` - The type of a value accessed in the IR. Unlike the `Type` class in the AST, `IRType`
+ *   is language-neutral. For example, in C++, `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t` might all
+ *   be represented as the `IRType` `uint4`, a four-byte unsigned integer.
+ */
+
 import IRFunction
 import Instruction
 import IRBlock
@@ -11,11 +55,12 @@ import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
 private newtype TIRPropertyProvider = MkIRPropertyProvider()
 
 /**
- * Class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
+ * A class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
  * the PrintIR module. Libraries that compute additional facts about IR elements can extend the
  * single instance of this class to specify the additional properties computed by the library.
  */
 class IRPropertyProvider extends TIRPropertyProvider {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRPropertyProvider" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
index 94ef73b2769..f0ec0683bd6 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes describing basic blocks in the IR of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import Instruction
 private import internal.IRBlockImports as Imports
@@ -16,15 +20,23 @@ private import Cached
  * Most consumers should use the class `IRBlock`.
  */
 class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this block. */
   final string toString() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).toString() }
 
+  /** Gets the source location of the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block. */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getFirstInstruction().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string that uniquely identifies this block within its enclosing function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getUniqueId() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).getUniqueId() }
 
   /**
-   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function. This is used
-   * by debugging and printing code only.
+   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
    */
   int getDisplayIndex() {
     exists(IRConfiguration::IRConfiguration config |
@@ -42,27 +54,51 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
       )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `index`th non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getInstruction(int index) { result = getInstruction(this, index) }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the `Phi` instructions that appear at the start of this block.
+   */
   final PhiInstruction getAPhiInstruction() {
     Construction::getPhiInstructionBlockStart(result) = getFirstInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the instructions in this block, including `Phi` instructions.
+   */
   final Instruction getAnInstruction() {
     result = getInstruction(_) or
     result = getAPhiInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getFirstInstruction() { result = getFirstInstruction(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the last instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getLastInstruction() { result = getInstruction(getInstructionCount() - 1) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the number of non-`Phi` instructions in this block.
+   */
   final int getInstructionCount() { result = getInstructionCount(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `IRFunction` that contains this block.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingIRFunction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `Function` that contains this block.
+   */
   final Language::Function getEnclosingFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingFunction()
   }
@@ -74,20 +110,57 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
  * instruction of another block.
  */
 class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks to which control flows directly from this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getASuccessor() { blockSuccessor(this, result) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks from which control flows directly to this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getAPredecessor() { blockSuccessor(result, this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along an edge of kind `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { blockSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along a back edge of kind
+   * `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getBackEdgeSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { backEdgeSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block immediately dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` immediate dominates block `B` if block `A` strictly dominates block `B` and block `B`
+   * is a direct successor of block `A`.
+   */
   final predicate immediatelyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block strictly dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` strictly dominates block `B` if block `A` dominates block `B` and blocks `A` and `B`
+   * are not the same block.
+   */
   final predicate strictlyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates+(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` dominates block `B` if any control flow path from the entry block of the function to
+   * block `B` must pass through block `A`. A block always dominates itself.
+   */
   final predicate dominates(IRBlock block) { strictlyDominates(block) or this = block }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the set of blocks on the dominance frontier of this block.
+   *
+   * The dominance frontier of block `A` is the set of blocks `B` such that block `A` does not
+   * dominate block `B`, but block `A` does dominate an immediate predecessor of block `B`.
+   */
   pragma[noinline]
   final IRBlock dominanceFrontier() {
     dominates(result.getAPredecessor()) and
@@ -95,7 +168,7 @@ class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry point of its function
+   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry block of its function.
    */
   final predicate isReachableFromFunctionEntry() {
     this = getEnclosingIRFunction().getEntryBlock() or
@@ -210,4 +283,4 @@ private module Cached {
     idominance(isEntryBlock/1, blockSuccessor/2)(_, dominator, block)
 }
 
-Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
+private Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
index 6b2d32af48c..5968e58f90b 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides the class `IRFunction`, which represents the Intermediate Representation for the
+ * definition of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import internal.IRFunctionImports as Imports
 import Imports::IRFunctionBase
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
index a01bd2dc79a..d317421c242 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent variables accessed by the IR.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import IRFunction
 private import internal.IRVariableImports as Imports
@@ -7,15 +11,11 @@ private import Imports::TTempVariableTag
 private import Imports::TIRVariable
 private import Imports::IRType
 
-IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Language::Function func, Language::Variable var) {
-  result.getVariable() = var and
-  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
-}
-
 /**
- * A variable referenced by the IR for a function. The variable may be a user-declared variable
- * (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated by the AST-to-IR translation
- * (`IRTempVariable`).
+ * A variable referenced by the IR for a function.
+ *
+ * The variable may be a user-declared variable (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated
+ * by the AST-to-IR translation (`IRTempVariable`).
  */
 class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
   Language::Function func;
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
     this = TIRDynamicInitializationFlag(func, _, _)
   }
 
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
@@ -162,20 +163,26 @@ class IRGeneratedVariable extends IRVariable {
 
   override string getUniqueId() { none() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string containing the source code location of the AST that generated this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getLocationString() {
     result =
       ast.getLocation().getStartLine().toString() + ":" +
         ast.getLocation().getStartColumn().toString()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the string that is combined with the location of the variable to generate the string
+   * representation of this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   string getBaseString() { none() }
 }
 
-IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Language::AST ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
-  result.getAST() = ast and
-  result.getTag() = tag
-}
-
 /**
  * A temporary variable introduced by IR construction. The most common examples are the variable
  * generated to hold the return value of a function, or the variable generated to hold the result of
@@ -190,6 +197,10 @@ class IRTempVariable extends IRGeneratedVariable, IRAutomaticVariable, TIRTempVa
     result = "Temp: " + Construction::getTempVariableUniqueId(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the "tag" object that differentiates this temporary variable from other temporary
+   * variables generated for the same AST.
+   */
   final TempVariableTag getTag() { result = tag }
 
   override string getBaseString() { result = "#temp" }
@@ -253,6 +264,9 @@ class IRStringLiteral extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRStringLiteral {
 
   final override string getBaseString() { result = "#string" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the AST of the string literal represented by this `IRStringLiteral`.
+   */
   final Language::StringLiteral getLiteral() { result = literal }
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +284,9 @@ class IRDynamicInitializationFlag extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRDynamicInitial
 
   final override string toString() { result = var.toString() + "#init" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets variable whose initialization is guarded by this flag.
+   */
   final Language::Variable getVariable() { result = var }
 
   final override string getUniqueId() {
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
index 79516f6780d..0d2ad2d3bea 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ class Instruction extends Construction::TStageInstruction {
     result = Raw::getInstructionUnconvertedResultExpression(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific type of the result produced by this instruction.
+   *
+   * Most consumers of the IR should use `getResultIRType()` instead. `getResultIRType()` uses a
+   * less complex, language-neutral type system in which all semantically equivalent types share the
+   * same `IRType` instance. For example, in C++, four different `Instruction`s might have three
+   * different values for `getResultLanguageType()`: `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t`,
+   * whereas all four instructions would have the same value for `getResultIRType()`, `uint4`.
+   */
   final Language::LanguageType getResultLanguageType() {
     result = Construction::getInstructionResultType(this)
   }
@@ -537,6 +546,18 @@ class VariableAddressInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   VariableAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VariableAddress }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of a function.
+ *
+ * This instruction returns the address of a function, including non-member functions, static member
+ * functions, and non-static member functions.
+ *
+ * The result has an `IRFunctionAddress` type.
+ */
+class FunctionAddressInstruction extends FunctionInstruction {
+  FunctionAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::FunctionAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes a parameter of the enclosing function with the value of the
  * corresponding argument passed by the caller.
@@ -553,6 +574,16 @@ class InitializeParameterInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   final Language::Parameter getParameter() { result = var.(IRUserVariable).getVariable() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that initializes all memory that existed before this function was called.
+ *
+ * This instruction provides a definition for memory that, because it was actually allocated and
+ * initialized elsewhere, would not otherwise have a definition in this function.
+ */
+class InitializeNonLocalInstruction extends Instruction {
+  InitializeNonLocalInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::InitializeNonLocal }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes the memory pointed to by a parameter of the enclosing function
  * with the value of that memory on entry to the function.
@@ -590,6 +621,25 @@ class FieldAddressInstruction extends FieldInstruction {
   final Instruction getObjectAddress() { result = getObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that computes the address of the first element of a managed array.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used for element access to C# arrays.
+ */
+class ElementsAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  ElementsAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::ElementsAddress }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final UnaryOperand getArrayObjectAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final Instruction getArrayObjectAddress() { result = getArrayObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that produces a well-defined but unknown result and has
  * unknown side effects, including side effects that are not conservatively
@@ -1137,8 +1187,14 @@ class PointerDiffInstruction extends PointerArithmeticInstruction {
 class UnaryInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnaryInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof UnaryOpcode }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final UnaryOperand getUnaryOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final Instruction getUnary() { result = getUnaryOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
@@ -1177,6 +1233,19 @@ class CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
   CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrThrow }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the complete object that contains the subobject
+ * pointed to by its operand.
+ *
+ * If the operand holds a null address, the result is a null address.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent `dyanmic_cast<void*>` in C++, which returns the pointer to
+ * the most-derived object.
+ */
+class CompleteObjectAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  CompleteObjectAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CompleteObjectAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that converts the address of an object to the address of a different subobject of
  * the same object, without any type checking at runtime.
@@ -1453,7 +1522,7 @@ class CallInstruction extends Instruction {
    * Gets the `Function` that the call targets, if this is statically known.
    */
   final Language::Function getStaticCallTarget() {
-    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
+    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionAddressInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1516,9 +1585,10 @@ class CallSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the side effect of a function call on any memory
- * that might be read by that call. This instruction is emitted instead of
- * `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it's certain that the call target cannot
- * write to escaped memory.
+ * that might be read by that call.
+ *
+ * This instruction is emitted instead of `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it is certain that the
+ * call target cannot write to escaped memory.
  */
 class CallReadSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
   CallReadSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CallReadSideEffect }
@@ -1566,7 +1636,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferReadSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1576,7 +1654,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
 class WriteSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction, IndexedInstruction {
   WriteSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof WriteSideEffectOpcode }
 
-  Instruction getArgumentDef() { result = getAnOperand().(AddressOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Get the operand that holds the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  final AddressOperand getDestinationAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  Instruction getDestinationAddress() { result = getDestinationAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1607,11 +1693,20 @@ class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructi
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the potential write of an indirect parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `IndirectWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the location might not be completely overwritten.
  * written.
  */
@@ -1623,6 +1718,7 @@ class IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1631,6 +1727,7 @@ class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1638,11 +1735,19 @@ class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructio
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, e.g. the result of a
+ * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, such as the result of a
  * call to `malloc`.
  */
 class InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1860,17 +1965,20 @@ class ChiInstruction extends Instruction {
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing unreachable code. Inserted in place of the original target
- * instruction of a `ConditionalBranch` or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is
- * infeasible.
+ * An instruction representing unreachable code.
+ *
+ * This instruction is inserted in place of the original target instruction of a `ConditionalBranch`
+ * or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is infeasible.
  */
 class UnreachedInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnreachedInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::Unreached }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing a built-in operation. This is used to represent
- * operations such as access to variable argument lists.
+ * An instruction representing a built-in operation.
+ *
+ * This is used to represent a variety of intrinsic operations provided by the compiler
+ * implementation, such as vector arithmetic.
  */
 class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
   Language::BuiltInOperation operation;
@@ -1880,6 +1988,10 @@ class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
     operation = Raw::getInstructionBuiltInOperation(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific `BuildInOperation` object that specifies the operation that is
+   * performed by this instruction.
+   */
   final Language::BuiltInOperation getBuiltInOperation() { result = operation }
 }
 
@@ -1892,3 +2004,59 @@ class BuiltInInstruction extends BuiltInOperationInstruction {
 
   final override string getImmediateString() { result = getBuiltInOperation().toString() }
 }
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns a `va_list` to access the arguments passed to the `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `IREllipsisVariable` used to represent the `...`
+ * parameter. The result is a `va_list` that initially refers to the first argument that was passed
+ * to the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class VarArgsStartInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsStartInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsStart }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that cleans up a `va_list` after it is no longer in use.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `va_list` to clean up. This instruction does not return
+ * a result.
+ */
+class VarArgsEndInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsEndInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsEnd }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the argument currently pointed to by a `va_list`.
+ *
+ * The operand is the `va_list` that points to the argument. The result is the address of the
+ * argument.
+ */
+class VarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that modifies a `va_list` to point to the next argument that was passed to the
+ * `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand is the current `va_list`. The result is an updated `va_list` that points to the next
+ * argument of the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class NextVarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  NextVarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NextVarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that allocates a new object on the managed heap.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent the allocation of a new object in C# using the `new`
+ * expression. This instruction does not invoke a constructor for the object. Instead, there will be
+ * a subsequent `Call` instruction to invoke the appropriate constructor directory, passing the
+ * result of the `NewObj` as the `this` argument.
+ *
+ * The result is the address of the newly allocated object.
+ */
+class NewObjInstruction extends Instruction {
+  NewObjInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NewObj }
+}
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll
index f82704094c8..468687b0aca 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent the input values of IR instructions.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import Instruction
 private import IRBlock
@@ -78,10 +82,17 @@ private PhiOperandBase phiOperand(
  * A source operand of an `Instruction`. The operand represents a value consumed by the instruction.
  */
 class Operand extends TOperand {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "Operand" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the location of the source code for this operand.
+   */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getUse().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the function that contains this operand.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() { result = getUse().getEnclosingIRFunction() }
 
   /**
@@ -270,6 +281,9 @@ class NonPhiOperand extends Operand {
 
   final override int getDumpSortOrder() { result = tag.getSortOrder() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `OperandTag` that specifies how this operand is used by its `Instruction`.
+   */
   final OperandTag getOperandTag() { result = tag }
 }
 
@@ -292,6 +306,9 @@ class RegisterOperand extends NonPhiOperand, RegisterOperandBase {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand other than the operand of a `Phi` instruction.
+ */
 class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOperandBase {
   override MemoryOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -313,6 +330,9 @@ class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOper
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand whose type may be different from the type of the result of its definition.
+ */
 class TypedOperand extends NonPhiMemoryOperand {
   override TypedOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -416,6 +436,9 @@ class PositionalArgumentOperand extends ArgumentOperand {
   final int getIndex() { result = tag.getArgIndex() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An operand representing memory read as a side effect of evaluating another instruction.
+ */
 class SideEffectOperand extends TypedOperand {
   override SideEffectOperandTag tag;
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
index d9c0df44e12..b3e3a5b1195 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * Outputs a representation of the IR as a control flow graph.
+ *
+ * This file contains the actual implementation of `PrintIR.ql`. For test cases and very small
+ * databases, `PrintIR.ql` can be run directly to dump the IR for the entire database. For most
+ * uses, however, it is better to write a query that imports `PrintIR.qll`, extends
+ * `PrintIRConfiguration`, and overrides `shouldPrintFunction()` to select a subset of functions to
+ * dump.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import IR
 private import internal.PrintIRImports as Imports
@@ -9,6 +19,7 @@ private newtype TPrintIRConfiguration = MkPrintIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions are printed.
  */
 class PrintIRConfiguration extends TPrintIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this configuration. */
   string toString() { result = "PrintIRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -47,7 +58,7 @@ private newtype TPrintableIRNode =
 /**
  * A node to be emitted in the IR graph.
  */
-abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
+abstract private class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
   abstract string toString();
 
   /**
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing a `IRFunction` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
+private class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
   IRFunction irFunc;
 
   PrintableIRFunction() { this = TPrintableIRFunction(irFunc) }
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `IRBlock` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
+private class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
   IRBlock block;
 
   PrintableIRBlock() { this = TPrintableIRBlock(block) }
@@ -161,7 +172,7 @@ class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `Instruction`.
  */
-class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
+private class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
   Instruction instr;
 
   PrintableInstruction() { this = TPrintableInstruction(instr) }
@@ -224,6 +235,9 @@ private string getPaddingString(int n) {
   n > 0 and n <= maxColumnWidth() and result = getPaddingString(n - 1) + " "
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `node` belongs to the output graph, and its property `key` has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate nodes(PrintableIRNode node, string key, string value) {
   value = node.getProperty(key)
 }
@@ -237,6 +251,10 @@ private int getSuccessorIndex(IRBlock pred, IRBlock succ) {
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if the output graph contains an edge from `pred` to `succ`, and that edge's property `key`
+ * has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key, string value) {
   exists(EdgeKind kind, IRBlock predBlock, IRBlock succBlock |
     predBlock = pred.getBlock() and
@@ -256,6 +274,9 @@ query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key,
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `parent` is the parent node of `child` in the output graph.
+ */
 query predicate parents(PrintableIRNode child, PrintableIRNode parent) {
   parent = child.getParent()
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/test/library-tests/ir/ir/raw_ir.expected b/cpp/ql/test/library-tests/ir/ir/raw_ir.expected
index 999df2c5202..a2be838ae48 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/test/library-tests/ir/ir/raw_ir.expected
+++ b/cpp/ql/test/library-tests/ir/ir/raw_ir.expected
@@ -4867,12 +4867,12 @@ ir.cpp:
 #  863|     r863_1(glval<void *>)               = VariableAddress[pv]                 : 
 #  863|     r863_2(glval<PolymorphicBase *>)    = VariableAddress[pb]                 : 
 #  863|     r863_3(PolymorphicBase *)           = Load                                : &:r863_2, ~m?
-#  863|     r863_4(void *)                      = DynamicCastToVoid                   : r863_3
+#  863|     r863_4(void *)                      = CompleteObjectAddress               : r863_3
 #  863|     mu863_5(void *)                     = Store                               : &:r863_1, r863_4
 #  864|     r864_1(glval<void *>)               = VariableAddress[pcv]                : 
 #  864|     r864_2(glval<PolymorphicDerived *>) = VariableAddress[pd]                 : 
 #  864|     r864_3(PolymorphicDerived *)        = Load                                : &:r864_2, ~m?
-#  864|     r864_4(void *)                      = DynamicCastToVoid                   : r864_3
+#  864|     r864_4(void *)                      = CompleteObjectAddress               : r864_3
 #  864|     mu864_5(void *)                     = Store                               : &:r864_1, r864_4
 #  865|     v865_1(void)                        = NoOp                                : 
 #  849|     v849_4(void)                        = ReturnVoid                          : 
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll
index 54059fb5b82..32e36bb6787 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/EdgeKind.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that specify the conditions under which control flows along a given edge.
+ */
+
 private import internal.EdgeKindInternal
 
 private newtype TEdgeKind =
@@ -77,9 +81,15 @@ class CaseEdge extends EdgeKind, TCaseEdge {
     else result = "Case[" + minValue + ".." + maxValue + "]"
   }
 
-  string getMinValue() { result = minValue }
+  /**
+   * Gets the smallest value of the switch expression for which control will flow along this edge.
+   */
+  final string getMinValue() { result = minValue }
 
-  string getMaxValue() { result = maxValue }
+  /**
+   * Gets the largest value of the switch expression for which control will flow along this edge.
+   */
+  final string getMaxValue() { result = maxValue }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll
index 71bc8ec2b0f..37ac2fccdd9 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRConfiguration.qll
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ private newtype TIRConfiguration = MkIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions have IR generated for them.
  */
 class IRConfiguration extends TIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -17,6 +18,13 @@ class IRConfiguration extends TIRConfiguration {
    */
   predicate shouldCreateIRForFunction(Language::Function func) { any() }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if the strings used as part of an IR dump should be generated for function `func`.
+   *
+   * This predicate is overridden in `PrintIR.qll` to avoid the expense of generating a large number
+   * of debug strings for IR that will not be dumped. We still generate the actual IR for these
+   * functions, however, to preserve the results of any interprocedural analysis.
+   */
   predicate shouldEvaluateDebugStringsForFunction(Language::Function func) { any() }
 }
 
@@ -26,6 +34,7 @@ private newtype TIREscapeAnalysisConfiguration = MkIREscapeAnalysisConfiguration
  * The query can extend this class to control what escape analysis is used when generating SSA.
  */
 class IREscapeAnalysisConfiguration extends TIREscapeAnalysisConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IREscapeAnalysisConfiguration" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRType.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRType.qll
index dec78b413b3..41c9ac06d82 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRType.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/IRType.qll
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ private newtype TIRType =
  * all pointer types map to the same instance of `IRAddressType`.
  */
 class IRType extends TIRType {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this type. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll
index 6852a965401..5e11a310e2f 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/MemoryAccessKind.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe how a particular `Instruction` or its operands access memory.
+ */
+
+private import IRConfiguration
+
 private newtype TMemoryAccessKind =
   TIndirectMemoryAccess() or
   TBufferMemoryAccess() or
@@ -14,6 +20,7 @@ private newtype TMemoryAccessKind =
  * memory result.
  */
 class MemoryAccessKind extends TMemoryAccessKind {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this access kind. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll
index c0b8adbe56b..c4134d240ab 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/Opcode.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides `Opcode`s that specify the operation performed by an `Instruction`, as well as metadata
+ * about those opcodes, such as operand kinds and memory accesses.
+ */
+
 private import internal.OpcodeImports as Imports
 private import internal.OperandTag
 import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
@@ -45,7 +50,7 @@ private newtype TOpcode =
   TConvertToDerived() or
   TCheckedConvertOrNull() or
   TCheckedConvertOrThrow() or
-  TDynamicCastToVoid() or
+  TCompleteObjectAddress() or
   TVariableAddress() or
   TFieldAddress() or
   TFunctionAddress() or
@@ -86,7 +91,11 @@ private newtype TOpcode =
   TUnreached() or
   TNewObj()
 
+/**
+ * An opcode that specifies the operation performed by an `Instruction`.
+ */
 class Opcode extends TOpcode {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "UnknownOpcode" }
 
   /**
@@ -139,10 +148,20 @@ class Opcode extends TOpcode {
   predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) { none() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `UnaryInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `UnaryInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class UnaryOpcode extends Opcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) { tag instanceof UnaryOperandTag }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BinaryInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BinaryInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BinaryOpcode extends Opcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) {
     tag instanceof LeftOperandTag or
@@ -150,44 +169,127 @@ abstract class BinaryOpcode extends Opcode {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `PointerArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `PointerArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class PointerArithmeticOpcode extends BinaryOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `PointerOffsetInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `PointerOffsetInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class PointerOffsetOpcode extends PointerArithmeticOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for an `ArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ArithmeticOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BinaryArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BinaryArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BinaryArithmeticOpcode extends BinaryOpcode, ArithmeticOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `UnaryArithmeticInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `UnaryArithmeticInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class UnaryArithmeticOpcode extends UnaryOpcode, ArithmeticOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BitwiseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BitwiseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BitwiseOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BinaryBitwiseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BinaryBitwiseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BinaryBitwiseOpcode extends BinaryOpcode, BitwiseOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `UnaryBitwiseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `UnaryBitwiseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class UnaryBitwiseOpcode extends UnaryOpcode, BitwiseOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `CompareInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `CompareInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class CompareOpcode extends BinaryOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `RelationalInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `RelationalInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class RelationalOpcode extends CompareOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `CopyInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `CopyInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class CopyOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToBaseInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ConvertToBaseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ConvertToBaseOpcode extends UnaryOpcode { }
 
-abstract class MemoryAccessOpcode extends Opcode { }
-
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ReturnInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ReturnOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ThrowInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ThrowInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class ThrowOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `CatchInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `CatchInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class CatchOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
-abstract class OpcodeWithCondition extends Opcode {
+abstract private class OpcodeWithCondition extends Opcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) { tag instanceof ConditionOperandTag }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `BuiltInOperationInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `BuiltInOperationInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class BuiltInOperationOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
+/**
+ * The `Opcode` for a `SideEffectInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `SideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+ */
 abstract class SideEffectOpcode extends Opcode { }
 
 /**
@@ -323,7 +425,9 @@ abstract class OpcodeWithLoad extends IndirectReadOpcode {
 }
 
 /**
- * An opcode that reads from a set of memory locations as a side effect.
+ * The `Opcode` for a `ReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `ReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
  */
 abstract class ReadSideEffectOpcode extends SideEffectOpcode {
   final override predicate hasOperandInternal(OperandTag tag) {
@@ -332,51 +436,111 @@ abstract class ReadSideEffectOpcode extends SideEffectOpcode {
 }
 
 /**
- * An opcode that writes to a set of memory locations as a side effect.
+ * The `Opcode` for a `WriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+ *
+ * See the `WriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
  */
 abstract class WriteSideEffectOpcode extends SideEffectOpcode { }
 
+/**
+ * Provides `Opcode`s that specify the operation performed by an `Instruction`.
+ */
 module Opcode {
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NoOpInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NoOpInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class NoOp extends Opcode, TNoOp {
     final override string toString() { result = "NoOp" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `UninitializedInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `UninitializedInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Uninitialized extends IndirectWriteOpcode, TUninitialized {
     final override string toString() { result = "Uninitialized" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `ErrorInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ErrorInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Error extends Opcode, TError {
     final override string toString() { result = "Error" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeParameterInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeParameterInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeParameter extends IndirectWriteOpcode, TInitializeParameter {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeParameter" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeIndirectionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeIndirectionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeIndirection extends EntireAllocationWriteOpcode, TInitializeIndirection {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeIndirection" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeThisInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeThisInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeThis extends Opcode, TInitializeThis {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeThis" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `EnterFunctionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `EnterFunctionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class EnterFunction extends Opcode, TEnterFunction {
     final override string toString() { result = "EnterFunction" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `ExitFunctionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ExitFunctionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ExitFunction extends Opcode, TExitFunction {
     final override string toString() { result = "ExitFunction" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnValueInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReturnValueInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReturnValue extends ReturnOpcode, OpcodeWithLoad, TReturnValue {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReturnValue" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnVoidInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReturnVoidInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReturnVoid extends ReturnOpcode, TReturnVoid {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReturnVoid" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReturnIndirectionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReturnIndirectionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReturnIndirection extends EntireAllocationReadOpcode, TReturnIndirection {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReturnIndirection" }
 
@@ -385,14 +549,29 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CopyValueInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CopyValueInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CopyValue extends UnaryOpcode, CopyOpcode, TCopyValue {
     final override string toString() { result = "CopyValue" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `LoadInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `LoadInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Load extends CopyOpcode, OpcodeWithLoad, TLoad {
     final override string toString() { result = "Load" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `StoreInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `StoreInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Store extends CopyOpcode, IndirectWriteOpcode, TStore {
     final override string toString() { result = "Store" }
 
@@ -401,154 +580,344 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `AddInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `AddInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Add extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TAdd {
     final override string toString() { result = "Add" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SubInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SubInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Sub extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TSub {
     final override string toString() { result = "Sub" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `MulInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `MulInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Mul extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TMul {
     final override string toString() { result = "Mul" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `DivInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `DivInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Div extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TDiv {
     final override string toString() { result = "Div" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `RemInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `RemInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Rem extends BinaryArithmeticOpcode, TRem {
     final override string toString() { result = "Rem" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NegateInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NegateInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Negate extends UnaryArithmeticOpcode, TNegate {
     final override string toString() { result = "Negate" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ShiftLeftInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ShiftLeftInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ShiftLeft extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TShiftLeft {
     final override string toString() { result = "ShiftLeft" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ShiftRightInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ShiftRightInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ShiftRight extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TShiftRight {
     final override string toString() { result = "ShiftRight" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitAndInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitAndInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitAnd extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitAnd {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitAnd" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitOrInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitOrInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitOr extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitOr {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitOr" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitXorInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitXorInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitXor extends BinaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitXor {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitXor" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BitComplementInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BitComplementInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BitComplement extends UnaryBitwiseOpcode, TBitComplement {
     final override string toString() { result = "BitComplement" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `LogicalNotInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `LogicalNotInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class LogicalNot extends UnaryOpcode, TLogicalNot {
     final override string toString() { result = "LogicalNot" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareEQInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareEQInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareEQ extends CompareOpcode, TCompareEQ {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareEQ" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareNEInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareNEInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareNE extends CompareOpcode, TCompareNE {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareNE" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareLTInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareLTInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareLT extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareLT {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareLT" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareGTInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareGTInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareGT extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareGT {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareGT" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareLEInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareLEInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareLE extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareLE {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareLE" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompareGEInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompareGEInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CompareGE extends RelationalOpcode, TCompareGE {
     final override string toString() { result = "CompareGE" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PointerAddInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PointerAddInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class PointerAdd extends PointerOffsetOpcode, TPointerAdd {
     final override string toString() { result = "PointerAdd" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PointerSubInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PointerSubInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class PointerSub extends PointerOffsetOpcode, TPointerSub {
     final override string toString() { result = "PointerSub" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PointerDiffInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PointerDiffInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class PointerDiff extends PointerArithmeticOpcode, TPointerDiff {
     final override string toString() { result = "PointerDiff" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Convert extends UnaryOpcode, TConvert {
     final override string toString() { result = "Convert" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToNonVirtualBaseInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertToNonVirtualBaseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConvertToNonVirtualBase extends ConvertToBaseOpcode, TConvertToNonVirtualBase {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConvertToNonVirtualBase" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToVirtualBaseInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertToVirtualBaseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConvertToVirtualBase extends ConvertToBaseOpcode, TConvertToVirtualBase {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConvertToVirtualBase" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConvertToDerivedInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConvertToDerivedInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConvertToDerived extends UnaryOpcode, TConvertToDerived {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConvertToDerived" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CheckedConvertOrNullInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CheckedConvertOrNullInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CheckedConvertOrNull extends UnaryOpcode, TCheckedConvertOrNull {
     final override string toString() { result = "CheckedConvertOrNull" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CheckedConvertOrThrow extends UnaryOpcode, TCheckedConvertOrThrow {
     final override string toString() { result = "CheckedConvertOrThrow" }
   }
 
-  class DynamicCastToVoid extends UnaryOpcode, TDynamicCastToVoid {
-    final override string toString() { result = "DynamicCastToVoid" }
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CompleteObjectAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CompleteObjectAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
+  class CompleteObjectAddress extends UnaryOpcode, TCompleteObjectAddress {
+    final override string toString() { result = "CompleteObjectAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VariableAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VariableAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VariableAddress extends Opcode, TVariableAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "VariableAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `FieldAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `FieldAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class FieldAddress extends UnaryOpcode, TFieldAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "FieldAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `ElementsAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ElementsAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ElementsAddress extends UnaryOpcode, TElementsAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "ElementsAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `FunctionAddressInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `FunctionAddressInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class FunctionAddress extends Opcode, TFunctionAddress {
     final override string toString() { result = "FunctionAddress" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConstantInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConstantInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Constant extends Opcode, TConstant {
     final override string toString() { result = "Constant" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `StringConstantInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `StringConstantInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class StringConstant extends Opcode, TStringConstant {
     final override string toString() { result = "StringConstant" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ConditionalBranchInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ConditionalBranchInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ConditionalBranch extends OpcodeWithCondition, TConditionalBranch {
     final override string toString() { result = "ConditionalBranch" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SwitchInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SwitchInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Switch extends OpcodeWithCondition, TSwitch {
     final override string toString() { result = "Switch" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CallInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CallInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Call extends Opcode, TCall {
     final override string toString() { result = "Call" }
 
@@ -557,32 +926,67 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CatchByTypeInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CatchByTypeInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CatchByType extends CatchOpcode, TCatchByType {
     final override string toString() { result = "CatchByType" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CatchAnyInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CatchAnyInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CatchAny extends CatchOpcode, TCatchAny {
     final override string toString() { result = "CatchAny" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ThrowValueInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ThrowValueInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ThrowValue extends ThrowOpcode, OpcodeWithLoad, TThrowValue {
     final override string toString() { result = "ThrowValue" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ReThrowInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ReThrowInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class ReThrow extends ThrowOpcode, TReThrow {
     final override string toString() { result = "ReThrow" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `UnwindInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `UnwindInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Unwind extends Opcode, TUnwind {
     final override string toString() { result = "Unwind" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `AliasedDefinitionInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `AliasedDefinitionInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class AliasedDefinition extends Opcode, TAliasedDefinition {
     final override string toString() { result = "AliasedDefinition" }
 
     final override MemoryAccessKind getWriteMemoryAccess() { result instanceof EscapedMemoryAccess }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeNonLocalInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeNonLocalInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeNonLocal extends Opcode, TInitializeNonLocal {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeNonLocal" }
 
@@ -591,6 +995,11 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `AliasedUseInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `AliasedUseInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class AliasedUse extends Opcode, TAliasedUse {
     final override string toString() { result = "AliasedUse" }
 
@@ -601,92 +1010,187 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `PhiInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `PhiInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Phi extends Opcode, TPhi {
     final override string toString() { result = "Phi" }
 
     final override MemoryAccessKind getWriteMemoryAccess() { result instanceof PhiMemoryAccess }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BuiltInInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BuiltInInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BuiltIn extends BuiltInOperationOpcode, TBuiltIn {
     final override string toString() { result = "BuiltIn" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VarArgsStartInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VarArgsStartInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VarArgsStart extends UnaryOpcode, TVarArgsStart {
     final override string toString() { result = "VarArgsStart" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VarArgsEndInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VarArgsEndInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VarArgsEnd extends UnaryOpcode, TVarArgsEnd {
     final override string toString() { result = "VarArgsEnd" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `VarArgInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `VarArgInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class VarArg extends UnaryOpcode, TVarArg {
     final override string toString() { result = "VarArg" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NextVarArgInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NextVarArgInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class NextVarArg extends UnaryOpcode, TNextVarArg {
     final override string toString() { result = "NextVarArg" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CallSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CallSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CallSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, EscapedWriteOpcode, MayWriteOpcode,
     ReadSideEffectOpcode, EscapedReadOpcode, MayReadOpcode, TCallSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "CallSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `CallReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `CallReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class CallReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, EscapedReadOpcode, MayReadOpcode,
     TCallReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "CallReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `IndirectReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `IndirectReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class IndirectReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, IndirectReadOpcode,
     TIndirectReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "IndirectReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `IndirectMustWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `IndirectMustWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class IndirectMustWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, IndirectWriteOpcode,
     TIndirectMustWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "IndirectMustWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class IndirectMayWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, IndirectWriteOpcode,
     MayWriteOpcode, TIndirectMayWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "IndirectMayWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BufferReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BufferReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BufferReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, UnsizedBufferReadOpcode,
     TBufferReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "BufferReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BufferMustWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, UnsizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     TBufferMustWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "BufferMustWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class BufferMayWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, UnsizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     MayWriteOpcode, TBufferMayWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "BufferMayWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class SizedBufferReadSideEffect extends ReadSideEffectOpcode, SizedBufferReadOpcode,
     TSizedBufferReadSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "SizedBufferReadSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, SizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     TSizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect extends WriteSideEffectOpcode, SizedBufferWriteOpcode,
     MayWriteOpcode, TSizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect {
     final override string toString() { result = "SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InitializeDynamicAllocation extends SideEffectOpcode, EntireAllocationWriteOpcode,
     TInitializeDynamicAllocation {
     final override string toString() { result = "InitializeDynamicAllocation" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `ChiInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `ChiInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Chi extends Opcode, TChi {
     final override string toString() { result = "Chi" }
 
@@ -701,6 +1205,11 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `InlineAsmInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `InlineAsmInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class InlineAsm extends Opcode, EscapedWriteOpcode, MayWriteOpcode, EscapedReadOpcode,
     MayReadOpcode, TInlineAsm {
     final override string toString() { result = "InlineAsm" }
@@ -710,10 +1219,20 @@ module Opcode {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for an `UnreachedInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `UnreachedInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class Unreached extends Opcode, TUnreached {
     final override string toString() { result = "Unreached" }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The `Opcode` for a `NewObjInstruction`.
+   *
+   * See the `NewObjInstruction` documentation for more details.
+   */
   class NewObj extends Opcode, TNewObj {
     final override string toString() { result = "NewObj" }
   }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll
index a0c0ca67530..5f230de560d 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/TempVariableTag.qll
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ private import Imports::TempVariableTag
  * computed on each branch. The set of possible `TempVariableTag`s is language-dependent.
  */
 class TempVariableTag extends TTempVariableTag {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this tag. */
   string toString() { result = getTempVariableTagId(this) }
 }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll
index badd48552a5..3fa0f1b78be 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,47 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the program.
+ *
+ * The IR is a representation of the semantics of the program, with very little dependence on the
+ * syntax that was used to write the program. For example, in C++, the statements `i += 1;`, `i++`,
+ * and `++i` all have the same semantic effect, but appear in the AST as three different types of
+ * `Expr` node. In the IR, all three statements are broken down into a sequence of fundamental
+ * operations similar to:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * r1(int*) = VariableAddress[i]  // Compute the address of variable `i`
+ * r2(int) = Load &:r1, m0  // Load the value of `i`
+ * r3(int) = Constant[1]  // An integer constant with the value `1`
+ * r4(int) = Add r2, r3  // Add `1` to the value of `i`
+ * r5(int) = Store &r1, r4  // Store the new value back into the variable `i`
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This allows IR-based analysis to focus on the fundamental operations, rather than having to be
+ * concerned with the various ways of expressing those operations in source code.
+ *
+ * The key classes in the IR are:
+ *
+ * - `IRFunction` - Contains the IR for an entire function definition, including all of that
+ *   function's `Instruction`s, `IRBlock`s, and `IRVariables`.
+ * - `Instruction` - A single operation in the IR. An instruction specifies the operation to be
+ *   performed, the operands that produce the inputs to that operation, and the type of the result
+ *   of the operation. Control flows from an `Instruction` to one of a set of successor
+ *   `Instruction`s.
+ * - `Operand` - An input value of an `Instruction`. All inputs of an `Instruction` are explicitly
+ *   represented as `Operand`s, even if the input was implicit in the source code. An `Operand` has
+ *   a link to the `Instruction` that consumes its value (its "use") and a link to the `Instruction`
+ *   that produces its value (its "definition").
+ * - `IRVariable` - A variable accessed by the IR for a particular function. An `IRVariable` is
+ *   created for each variable directly accessed by the function. In addition, `IRVariable`s are
+ *   created to represent certain temporary storage locations that do not have explicitly declared
+ *   variables in the source code, such as the return value of the function.
+ * - `IRBlock` - A "basic block" in the control flow graph of a function. An `IRBlock` contains a
+ *   sequence of instructions such that control flow can only enter the block at the first
+ *   instruction, and can only leave the block from the last instruction.
+ * - `IRType` - The type of a value accessed in the IR. Unlike the `Type` class in the AST, `IRType`
+ *   is language-neutral. For example, in C++, `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t` might all
+ *   be represented as the `IRType` `uint4`, a four-byte unsigned integer.
+ */
+
 import IRFunction
 import Instruction
 import IRBlock
@@ -11,11 +55,12 @@ import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
 private newtype TIRPropertyProvider = MkIRPropertyProvider()
 
 /**
- * Class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
+ * A class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
  * the PrintIR module. Libraries that compute additional facts about IR elements can extend the
  * single instance of this class to specify the additional properties computed by the library.
  */
 class IRPropertyProvider extends TIRPropertyProvider {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRPropertyProvider" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll
index 94ef73b2769..f0ec0683bd6 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRBlock.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes describing basic blocks in the IR of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import Instruction
 private import internal.IRBlockImports as Imports
@@ -16,15 +20,23 @@ private import Cached
  * Most consumers should use the class `IRBlock`.
  */
 class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this block. */
   final string toString() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).toString() }
 
+  /** Gets the source location of the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block. */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getFirstInstruction().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string that uniquely identifies this block within its enclosing function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getUniqueId() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).getUniqueId() }
 
   /**
-   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function. This is used
-   * by debugging and printing code only.
+   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
    */
   int getDisplayIndex() {
     exists(IRConfiguration::IRConfiguration config |
@@ -42,27 +54,51 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
       )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `index`th non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getInstruction(int index) { result = getInstruction(this, index) }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the `Phi` instructions that appear at the start of this block.
+   */
   final PhiInstruction getAPhiInstruction() {
     Construction::getPhiInstructionBlockStart(result) = getFirstInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the instructions in this block, including `Phi` instructions.
+   */
   final Instruction getAnInstruction() {
     result = getInstruction(_) or
     result = getAPhiInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getFirstInstruction() { result = getFirstInstruction(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the last instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getLastInstruction() { result = getInstruction(getInstructionCount() - 1) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the number of non-`Phi` instructions in this block.
+   */
   final int getInstructionCount() { result = getInstructionCount(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `IRFunction` that contains this block.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingIRFunction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `Function` that contains this block.
+   */
   final Language::Function getEnclosingFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingFunction()
   }
@@ -74,20 +110,57 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
  * instruction of another block.
  */
 class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks to which control flows directly from this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getASuccessor() { blockSuccessor(this, result) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks from which control flows directly to this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getAPredecessor() { blockSuccessor(result, this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along an edge of kind `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { blockSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along a back edge of kind
+   * `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getBackEdgeSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { backEdgeSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block immediately dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` immediate dominates block `B` if block `A` strictly dominates block `B` and block `B`
+   * is a direct successor of block `A`.
+   */
   final predicate immediatelyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block strictly dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` strictly dominates block `B` if block `A` dominates block `B` and blocks `A` and `B`
+   * are not the same block.
+   */
   final predicate strictlyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates+(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` dominates block `B` if any control flow path from the entry block of the function to
+   * block `B` must pass through block `A`. A block always dominates itself.
+   */
   final predicate dominates(IRBlock block) { strictlyDominates(block) or this = block }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the set of blocks on the dominance frontier of this block.
+   *
+   * The dominance frontier of block `A` is the set of blocks `B` such that block `A` does not
+   * dominate block `B`, but block `A` does dominate an immediate predecessor of block `B`.
+   */
   pragma[noinline]
   final IRBlock dominanceFrontier() {
     dominates(result.getAPredecessor()) and
@@ -95,7 +168,7 @@ class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry point of its function
+   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry block of its function.
    */
   final predicate isReachableFromFunctionEntry() {
     this = getEnclosingIRFunction().getEntryBlock() or
@@ -210,4 +283,4 @@ private module Cached {
     idominance(isEntryBlock/1, blockSuccessor/2)(_, dominator, block)
 }
 
-Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
+private Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll
index 6b2d32af48c..5968e58f90b 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRFunction.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides the class `IRFunction`, which represents the Intermediate Representation for the
+ * definition of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import internal.IRFunctionImports as Imports
 import Imports::IRFunctionBase
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll
index a01bd2dc79a..d317421c242 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/IRVariable.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent variables accessed by the IR.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import IRFunction
 private import internal.IRVariableImports as Imports
@@ -7,15 +11,11 @@ private import Imports::TTempVariableTag
 private import Imports::TIRVariable
 private import Imports::IRType
 
-IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Language::Function func, Language::Variable var) {
-  result.getVariable() = var and
-  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
-}
-
 /**
- * A variable referenced by the IR for a function. The variable may be a user-declared variable
- * (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated by the AST-to-IR translation
- * (`IRTempVariable`).
+ * A variable referenced by the IR for a function.
+ *
+ * The variable may be a user-declared variable (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated
+ * by the AST-to-IR translation (`IRTempVariable`).
  */
 class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
   Language::Function func;
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
     this = TIRDynamicInitializationFlag(func, _, _)
   }
 
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
@@ -162,20 +163,26 @@ class IRGeneratedVariable extends IRVariable {
 
   override string getUniqueId() { none() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string containing the source code location of the AST that generated this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getLocationString() {
     result =
       ast.getLocation().getStartLine().toString() + ":" +
         ast.getLocation().getStartColumn().toString()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the string that is combined with the location of the variable to generate the string
+   * representation of this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   string getBaseString() { none() }
 }
 
-IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Language::AST ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
-  result.getAST() = ast and
-  result.getTag() = tag
-}
-
 /**
  * A temporary variable introduced by IR construction. The most common examples are the variable
  * generated to hold the return value of a function, or the variable generated to hold the result of
@@ -190,6 +197,10 @@ class IRTempVariable extends IRGeneratedVariable, IRAutomaticVariable, TIRTempVa
     result = "Temp: " + Construction::getTempVariableUniqueId(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the "tag" object that differentiates this temporary variable from other temporary
+   * variables generated for the same AST.
+   */
   final TempVariableTag getTag() { result = tag }
 
   override string getBaseString() { result = "#temp" }
@@ -253,6 +264,9 @@ class IRStringLiteral extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRStringLiteral {
 
   final override string getBaseString() { result = "#string" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the AST of the string literal represented by this `IRStringLiteral`.
+   */
   final Language::StringLiteral getLiteral() { result = literal }
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +284,9 @@ class IRDynamicInitializationFlag extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRDynamicInitial
 
   final override string toString() { result = var.toString() + "#init" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets variable whose initialization is guarded by this flag.
+   */
   final Language::Variable getVariable() { result = var }
 
   final override string getUniqueId() {
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll
index 79516f6780d..0d2ad2d3bea 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Instruction.qll
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ class Instruction extends Construction::TStageInstruction {
     result = Raw::getInstructionUnconvertedResultExpression(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific type of the result produced by this instruction.
+   *
+   * Most consumers of the IR should use `getResultIRType()` instead. `getResultIRType()` uses a
+   * less complex, language-neutral type system in which all semantically equivalent types share the
+   * same `IRType` instance. For example, in C++, four different `Instruction`s might have three
+   * different values for `getResultLanguageType()`: `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t`,
+   * whereas all four instructions would have the same value for `getResultIRType()`, `uint4`.
+   */
   final Language::LanguageType getResultLanguageType() {
     result = Construction::getInstructionResultType(this)
   }
@@ -537,6 +546,18 @@ class VariableAddressInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   VariableAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VariableAddress }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of a function.
+ *
+ * This instruction returns the address of a function, including non-member functions, static member
+ * functions, and non-static member functions.
+ *
+ * The result has an `IRFunctionAddress` type.
+ */
+class FunctionAddressInstruction extends FunctionInstruction {
+  FunctionAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::FunctionAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes a parameter of the enclosing function with the value of the
  * corresponding argument passed by the caller.
@@ -553,6 +574,16 @@ class InitializeParameterInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   final Language::Parameter getParameter() { result = var.(IRUserVariable).getVariable() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that initializes all memory that existed before this function was called.
+ *
+ * This instruction provides a definition for memory that, because it was actually allocated and
+ * initialized elsewhere, would not otherwise have a definition in this function.
+ */
+class InitializeNonLocalInstruction extends Instruction {
+  InitializeNonLocalInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::InitializeNonLocal }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes the memory pointed to by a parameter of the enclosing function
  * with the value of that memory on entry to the function.
@@ -590,6 +621,25 @@ class FieldAddressInstruction extends FieldInstruction {
   final Instruction getObjectAddress() { result = getObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that computes the address of the first element of a managed array.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used for element access to C# arrays.
+ */
+class ElementsAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  ElementsAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::ElementsAddress }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final UnaryOperand getArrayObjectAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final Instruction getArrayObjectAddress() { result = getArrayObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that produces a well-defined but unknown result and has
  * unknown side effects, including side effects that are not conservatively
@@ -1137,8 +1187,14 @@ class PointerDiffInstruction extends PointerArithmeticInstruction {
 class UnaryInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnaryInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof UnaryOpcode }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final UnaryOperand getUnaryOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final Instruction getUnary() { result = getUnaryOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
@@ -1177,6 +1233,19 @@ class CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
   CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrThrow }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the complete object that contains the subobject
+ * pointed to by its operand.
+ *
+ * If the operand holds a null address, the result is a null address.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent `dyanmic_cast<void*>` in C++, which returns the pointer to
+ * the most-derived object.
+ */
+class CompleteObjectAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  CompleteObjectAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CompleteObjectAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that converts the address of an object to the address of a different subobject of
  * the same object, without any type checking at runtime.
@@ -1453,7 +1522,7 @@ class CallInstruction extends Instruction {
    * Gets the `Function` that the call targets, if this is statically known.
    */
   final Language::Function getStaticCallTarget() {
-    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
+    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionAddressInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1516,9 +1585,10 @@ class CallSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the side effect of a function call on any memory
- * that might be read by that call. This instruction is emitted instead of
- * `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it's certain that the call target cannot
- * write to escaped memory.
+ * that might be read by that call.
+ *
+ * This instruction is emitted instead of `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it is certain that the
+ * call target cannot write to escaped memory.
  */
 class CallReadSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
   CallReadSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CallReadSideEffect }
@@ -1566,7 +1636,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferReadSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1576,7 +1654,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
 class WriteSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction, IndexedInstruction {
   WriteSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof WriteSideEffectOpcode }
 
-  Instruction getArgumentDef() { result = getAnOperand().(AddressOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Get the operand that holds the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  final AddressOperand getDestinationAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  Instruction getDestinationAddress() { result = getDestinationAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1607,11 +1693,20 @@ class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructi
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the potential write of an indirect parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `IndirectWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the location might not be completely overwritten.
  * written.
  */
@@ -1623,6 +1718,7 @@ class IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1631,6 +1727,7 @@ class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1638,11 +1735,19 @@ class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructio
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, e.g. the result of a
+ * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, such as the result of a
  * call to `malloc`.
  */
 class InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1860,17 +1965,20 @@ class ChiInstruction extends Instruction {
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing unreachable code. Inserted in place of the original target
- * instruction of a `ConditionalBranch` or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is
- * infeasible.
+ * An instruction representing unreachable code.
+ *
+ * This instruction is inserted in place of the original target instruction of a `ConditionalBranch`
+ * or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is infeasible.
  */
 class UnreachedInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnreachedInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::Unreached }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing a built-in operation. This is used to represent
- * operations such as access to variable argument lists.
+ * An instruction representing a built-in operation.
+ *
+ * This is used to represent a variety of intrinsic operations provided by the compiler
+ * implementation, such as vector arithmetic.
  */
 class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
   Language::BuiltInOperation operation;
@@ -1880,6 +1988,10 @@ class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
     operation = Raw::getInstructionBuiltInOperation(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific `BuildInOperation` object that specifies the operation that is
+   * performed by this instruction.
+   */
   final Language::BuiltInOperation getBuiltInOperation() { result = operation }
 }
 
@@ -1892,3 +2004,59 @@ class BuiltInInstruction extends BuiltInOperationInstruction {
 
   final override string getImmediateString() { result = getBuiltInOperation().toString() }
 }
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns a `va_list` to access the arguments passed to the `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `IREllipsisVariable` used to represent the `...`
+ * parameter. The result is a `va_list` that initially refers to the first argument that was passed
+ * to the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class VarArgsStartInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsStartInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsStart }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that cleans up a `va_list` after it is no longer in use.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `va_list` to clean up. This instruction does not return
+ * a result.
+ */
+class VarArgsEndInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsEndInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsEnd }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the argument currently pointed to by a `va_list`.
+ *
+ * The operand is the `va_list` that points to the argument. The result is the address of the
+ * argument.
+ */
+class VarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that modifies a `va_list` to point to the next argument that was passed to the
+ * `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand is the current `va_list`. The result is an updated `va_list` that points to the next
+ * argument of the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class NextVarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  NextVarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NextVarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that allocates a new object on the managed heap.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent the allocation of a new object in C# using the `new`
+ * expression. This instruction does not invoke a constructor for the object. Instead, there will be
+ * a subsequent `Call` instruction to invoke the appropriate constructor directory, passing the
+ * result of the `NewObj` as the `this` argument.
+ *
+ * The result is the address of the newly allocated object.
+ */
+class NewObjInstruction extends Instruction {
+  NewObjInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NewObj }
+}
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll
index f82704094c8..468687b0aca 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/Operand.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent the input values of IR instructions.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import Instruction
 private import IRBlock
@@ -78,10 +82,17 @@ private PhiOperandBase phiOperand(
  * A source operand of an `Instruction`. The operand represents a value consumed by the instruction.
  */
 class Operand extends TOperand {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "Operand" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the location of the source code for this operand.
+   */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getUse().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the function that contains this operand.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() { result = getUse().getEnclosingIRFunction() }
 
   /**
@@ -270,6 +281,9 @@ class NonPhiOperand extends Operand {
 
   final override int getDumpSortOrder() { result = tag.getSortOrder() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `OperandTag` that specifies how this operand is used by its `Instruction`.
+   */
   final OperandTag getOperandTag() { result = tag }
 }
 
@@ -292,6 +306,9 @@ class RegisterOperand extends NonPhiOperand, RegisterOperandBase {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand other than the operand of a `Phi` instruction.
+ */
 class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOperandBase {
   override MemoryOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -313,6 +330,9 @@ class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOper
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand whose type may be different from the type of the result of its definition.
+ */
 class TypedOperand extends NonPhiMemoryOperand {
   override TypedOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -416,6 +436,9 @@ class PositionalArgumentOperand extends ArgumentOperand {
   final int getIndex() { result = tag.getArgIndex() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An operand representing memory read as a side effect of evaluating another instruction.
+ */
 class SideEffectOperand extends TypedOperand {
   override SideEffectOperandTag tag;
 }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll
index d9c0df44e12..b3e3a5b1195 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/PrintIR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * Outputs a representation of the IR as a control flow graph.
+ *
+ * This file contains the actual implementation of `PrintIR.ql`. For test cases and very small
+ * databases, `PrintIR.ql` can be run directly to dump the IR for the entire database. For most
+ * uses, however, it is better to write a query that imports `PrintIR.qll`, extends
+ * `PrintIRConfiguration`, and overrides `shouldPrintFunction()` to select a subset of functions to
+ * dump.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import IR
 private import internal.PrintIRImports as Imports
@@ -9,6 +19,7 @@ private newtype TPrintIRConfiguration = MkPrintIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions are printed.
  */
 class PrintIRConfiguration extends TPrintIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this configuration. */
   string toString() { result = "PrintIRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -47,7 +58,7 @@ private newtype TPrintableIRNode =
 /**
  * A node to be emitted in the IR graph.
  */
-abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
+abstract private class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
   abstract string toString();
 
   /**
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing a `IRFunction` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
+private class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
   IRFunction irFunc;
 
   PrintableIRFunction() { this = TPrintableIRFunction(irFunc) }
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `IRBlock` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
+private class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
   IRBlock block;
 
   PrintableIRBlock() { this = TPrintableIRBlock(block) }
@@ -161,7 +172,7 @@ class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `Instruction`.
  */
-class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
+private class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
   Instruction instr;
 
   PrintableInstruction() { this = TPrintableInstruction(instr) }
@@ -224,6 +235,9 @@ private string getPaddingString(int n) {
   n > 0 and n <= maxColumnWidth() and result = getPaddingString(n - 1) + " "
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `node` belongs to the output graph, and its property `key` has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate nodes(PrintableIRNode node, string key, string value) {
   value = node.getProperty(key)
 }
@@ -237,6 +251,10 @@ private int getSuccessorIndex(IRBlock pred, IRBlock succ) {
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if the output graph contains an edge from `pred` to `succ`, and that edge's property `key`
+ * has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key, string value) {
   exists(EdgeKind kind, IRBlock predBlock, IRBlock succBlock |
     predBlock = pred.getBlock() and
@@ -256,6 +274,9 @@ query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key,
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `parent` is the parent node of `child` in the output graph.
+ */
 query predicate parents(PrintableIRNode child, PrintableIRNode parent) {
   parent = child.getParent()
 }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll
index 7171cb66c2c..0022711f79e 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/raw/internal/TranslatedElement.qll
@@ -21,6 +21,16 @@ ArrayType getArrayOfDim(int dim, Type type) {
   result.getElementType() = type
 }
 
+IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Language::Function func, Language::Variable var) {
+  result.getVariable() = var and
+  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
+}
+
+IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Language::AST ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
+  result.getAST() = ast and
+  result.getTag() = tag
+}
+
 private predicate canCreateCompilerGeneratedElement(Element generatedBy, int nth) {
   generatedBy instanceof ForeachStmt and nth in [0 .. ForeachElements::noGeneratedElements() - 1]
   or
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll
index badd48552a5..3fa0f1b78be 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,47 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that describe the Intermediate Representation (IR) of the program.
+ *
+ * The IR is a representation of the semantics of the program, with very little dependence on the
+ * syntax that was used to write the program. For example, in C++, the statements `i += 1;`, `i++`,
+ * and `++i` all have the same semantic effect, but appear in the AST as three different types of
+ * `Expr` node. In the IR, all three statements are broken down into a sequence of fundamental
+ * operations similar to:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * r1(int*) = VariableAddress[i]  // Compute the address of variable `i`
+ * r2(int) = Load &:r1, m0  // Load the value of `i`
+ * r3(int) = Constant[1]  // An integer constant with the value `1`
+ * r4(int) = Add r2, r3  // Add `1` to the value of `i`
+ * r5(int) = Store &r1, r4  // Store the new value back into the variable `i`
+ * ```
+ *
+ * This allows IR-based analysis to focus on the fundamental operations, rather than having to be
+ * concerned with the various ways of expressing those operations in source code.
+ *
+ * The key classes in the IR are:
+ *
+ * - `IRFunction` - Contains the IR for an entire function definition, including all of that
+ *   function's `Instruction`s, `IRBlock`s, and `IRVariables`.
+ * - `Instruction` - A single operation in the IR. An instruction specifies the operation to be
+ *   performed, the operands that produce the inputs to that operation, and the type of the result
+ *   of the operation. Control flows from an `Instruction` to one of a set of successor
+ *   `Instruction`s.
+ * - `Operand` - An input value of an `Instruction`. All inputs of an `Instruction` are explicitly
+ *   represented as `Operand`s, even if the input was implicit in the source code. An `Operand` has
+ *   a link to the `Instruction` that consumes its value (its "use") and a link to the `Instruction`
+ *   that produces its value (its "definition").
+ * - `IRVariable` - A variable accessed by the IR for a particular function. An `IRVariable` is
+ *   created for each variable directly accessed by the function. In addition, `IRVariable`s are
+ *   created to represent certain temporary storage locations that do not have explicitly declared
+ *   variables in the source code, such as the return value of the function.
+ * - `IRBlock` - A "basic block" in the control flow graph of a function. An `IRBlock` contains a
+ *   sequence of instructions such that control flow can only enter the block at the first
+ *   instruction, and can only leave the block from the last instruction.
+ * - `IRType` - The type of a value accessed in the IR. Unlike the `Type` class in the AST, `IRType`
+ *   is language-neutral. For example, in C++, `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t` might all
+ *   be represented as the `IRType` `uint4`, a four-byte unsigned integer.
+ */
+
 import IRFunction
 import Instruction
 import IRBlock
@@ -11,11 +55,12 @@ import Imports::MemoryAccessKind
 private newtype TIRPropertyProvider = MkIRPropertyProvider()
 
 /**
- * Class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
+ * A class that provides additional properties to be dumped for IR instructions and blocks when using
  * the PrintIR module. Libraries that compute additional facts about IR elements can extend the
  * single instance of this class to specify the additional properties computed by the library.
  */
 class IRPropertyProvider extends TIRPropertyProvider {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "IRPropertyProvider" }
 
   /**
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
index 94ef73b2769..f0ec0683bd6 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRBlock.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes describing basic blocks in the IR of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import Instruction
 private import internal.IRBlockImports as Imports
@@ -16,15 +20,23 @@ private import Cached
  * Most consumers should use the class `IRBlock`.
  */
 class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this block. */
   final string toString() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).toString() }
 
+  /** Gets the source location of the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block. */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getFirstInstruction().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string that uniquely identifies this block within its enclosing function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getUniqueId() { result = getFirstInstruction(this).getUniqueId() }
 
   /**
-   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function. This is used
-   * by debugging and printing code only.
+   * Gets the zero-based index of the block within its function.
+   *
+   * This predicate is used by debugging and printing code only.
    */
   int getDisplayIndex() {
     exists(IRConfiguration::IRConfiguration config |
@@ -42,27 +54,51 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
       )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `index`th non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getInstruction(int index) { result = getInstruction(this, index) }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the `Phi` instructions that appear at the start of this block.
+   */
   final PhiInstruction getAPhiInstruction() {
     Construction::getPhiInstructionBlockStart(result) = getFirstInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the instructions in this block, including `Phi` instructions.
+   */
   final Instruction getAnInstruction() {
     result = getInstruction(_) or
     result = getAPhiInstruction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the first non-`Phi` instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getFirstInstruction() { result = getFirstInstruction(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the last instruction in this block.
+   */
   final Instruction getLastInstruction() { result = getInstruction(getInstructionCount() - 1) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the number of non-`Phi` instructions in this block.
+   */
   final int getInstructionCount() { result = getInstructionCount(this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `IRFunction` that contains this block.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingIRFunction()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `Function` that contains this block.
+   */
   final Language::Function getEnclosingFunction() {
     result = getFirstInstruction(this).getEnclosingFunction()
   }
@@ -74,20 +110,57 @@ class IRBlockBase extends TIRBlock {
  * instruction of another block.
  */
 class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks to which control flows directly from this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getASuccessor() { blockSuccessor(this, result) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the blocks from which control flows directly to this block.
+   */
   final IRBlock getAPredecessor() { blockSuccessor(result, this) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along an edge of kind `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { blockSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the block to which control flows directly from this block along a back edge of kind
+   * `kind`.
+   */
   final IRBlock getBackEdgeSuccessor(EdgeKind kind) { backEdgeSuccessor(this, result, kind) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block immediately dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` immediate dominates block `B` if block `A` strictly dominates block `B` and block `B`
+   * is a direct successor of block `A`.
+   */
   final predicate immediatelyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block strictly dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` strictly dominates block `B` if block `A` dominates block `B` and blocks `A` and `B`
+   * are not the same block.
+   */
   final predicate strictlyDominates(IRBlock block) { blockImmediatelyDominates+(this, block) }
 
+  /**
+   * Holds if this block dominates `block`.
+   *
+   * Block `A` dominates block `B` if any control flow path from the entry block of the function to
+   * block `B` must pass through block `A`. A block always dominates itself.
+   */
   final predicate dominates(IRBlock block) { strictlyDominates(block) or this = block }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the set of blocks on the dominance frontier of this block.
+   *
+   * The dominance frontier of block `A` is the set of blocks `B` such that block `A` does not
+   * dominate block `B`, but block `A` does dominate an immediate predecessor of block `B`.
+   */
   pragma[noinline]
   final IRBlock dominanceFrontier() {
     dominates(result.getAPredecessor()) and
@@ -95,7 +168,7 @@ class IRBlock extends IRBlockBase {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry point of its function
+   * Holds if this block is reachable from the entry block of its function.
    */
   final predicate isReachableFromFunctionEntry() {
     this = getEnclosingIRFunction().getEntryBlock() or
@@ -210,4 +283,4 @@ private module Cached {
     idominance(isEntryBlock/1, blockSuccessor/2)(_, dominator, block)
 }
 
-Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
+private Instruction getFirstInstruction(TIRBlock block) { block = MkIRBlock(result) }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
index 6b2d32af48c..5968e58f90b 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRFunction.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+/**
+ * Provides the class `IRFunction`, which represents the Intermediate Representation for the
+ * definition of a function.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import internal.IRFunctionImports as Imports
 import Imports::IRFunctionBase
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
index a01bd2dc79a..d317421c242 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/IRVariable.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent variables accessed by the IR.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 import IRFunction
 private import internal.IRVariableImports as Imports
@@ -7,15 +11,11 @@ private import Imports::TTempVariableTag
 private import Imports::TIRVariable
 private import Imports::IRType
 
-IRUserVariable getIRUserVariable(Language::Function func, Language::Variable var) {
-  result.getVariable() = var and
-  result.getEnclosingFunction() = func
-}
-
 /**
- * A variable referenced by the IR for a function. The variable may be a user-declared variable
- * (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated by the AST-to-IR translation
- * (`IRTempVariable`).
+ * A variable referenced by the IR for a function.
+ *
+ * The variable may be a user-declared variable (`IRUserVariable`) or a temporary variable generated
+ * by the AST-to-IR translation (`IRTempVariable`).
  */
 class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
   Language::Function func;
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class IRVariable extends TIRVariable {
     this = TIRDynamicInitializationFlag(func, _, _)
   }
 
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { none() }
 
   /**
@@ -162,20 +163,26 @@ class IRGeneratedVariable extends IRVariable {
 
   override string getUniqueId() { none() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets a string containing the source code location of the AST that generated this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   final string getLocationString() {
     result =
       ast.getLocation().getStartLine().toString() + ":" +
         ast.getLocation().getStartColumn().toString()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the string that is combined with the location of the variable to generate the string
+   * representation of this variable.
+   *
+   * This is used by debugging and printing code only.
+   */
   string getBaseString() { none() }
 }
 
-IRTempVariable getIRTempVariable(Language::AST ast, TempVariableTag tag) {
-  result.getAST() = ast and
-  result.getTag() = tag
-}
-
 /**
  * A temporary variable introduced by IR construction. The most common examples are the variable
  * generated to hold the return value of a function, or the variable generated to hold the result of
@@ -190,6 +197,10 @@ class IRTempVariable extends IRGeneratedVariable, IRAutomaticVariable, TIRTempVa
     result = "Temp: " + Construction::getTempVariableUniqueId(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the "tag" object that differentiates this temporary variable from other temporary
+   * variables generated for the same AST.
+   */
   final TempVariableTag getTag() { result = tag }
 
   override string getBaseString() { result = "#temp" }
@@ -253,6 +264,9 @@ class IRStringLiteral extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRStringLiteral {
 
   final override string getBaseString() { result = "#string" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the AST of the string literal represented by this `IRStringLiteral`.
+   */
   final Language::StringLiteral getLiteral() { result = literal }
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +284,9 @@ class IRDynamicInitializationFlag extends IRGeneratedVariable, TIRDynamicInitial
 
   final override string toString() { result = var.toString() + "#init" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets variable whose initialization is guarded by this flag.
+   */
   final Language::Variable getVariable() { result = var }
 
   final override string getUniqueId() {
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
index 79516f6780d..0d2ad2d3bea 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Instruction.qll
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ class Instruction extends Construction::TStageInstruction {
     result = Raw::getInstructionUnconvertedResultExpression(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific type of the result produced by this instruction.
+   *
+   * Most consumers of the IR should use `getResultIRType()` instead. `getResultIRType()` uses a
+   * less complex, language-neutral type system in which all semantically equivalent types share the
+   * same `IRType` instance. For example, in C++, four different `Instruction`s might have three
+   * different values for `getResultLanguageType()`: `unsigned int`, `char32_t`, and `wchar_t`,
+   * whereas all four instructions would have the same value for `getResultIRType()`, `uint4`.
+   */
   final Language::LanguageType getResultLanguageType() {
     result = Construction::getInstructionResultType(this)
   }
@@ -537,6 +546,18 @@ class VariableAddressInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   VariableAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VariableAddress }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of a function.
+ *
+ * This instruction returns the address of a function, including non-member functions, static member
+ * functions, and non-static member functions.
+ *
+ * The result has an `IRFunctionAddress` type.
+ */
+class FunctionAddressInstruction extends FunctionInstruction {
+  FunctionAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::FunctionAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes a parameter of the enclosing function with the value of the
  * corresponding argument passed by the caller.
@@ -553,6 +574,16 @@ class InitializeParameterInstruction extends VariableInstruction {
   final Language::Parameter getParameter() { result = var.(IRUserVariable).getVariable() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that initializes all memory that existed before this function was called.
+ *
+ * This instruction provides a definition for memory that, because it was actually allocated and
+ * initialized elsewhere, would not otherwise have a definition in this function.
+ */
+class InitializeNonLocalInstruction extends Instruction {
+  InitializeNonLocalInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::InitializeNonLocal }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that initializes the memory pointed to by a parameter of the enclosing function
  * with the value of that memory on entry to the function.
@@ -590,6 +621,25 @@ class FieldAddressInstruction extends FieldInstruction {
   final Instruction getObjectAddress() { result = getObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that computes the address of the first element of a managed array.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used for element access to C# arrays.
+ */
+class ElementsAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  ElementsAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::ElementsAddress }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final UnaryOperand getArrayObjectAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the array object.
+   */
+  final Instruction getArrayObjectAddress() { result = getArrayObjectAddressOperand().getDef() }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that produces a well-defined but unknown result and has
  * unknown side effects, including side effects that are not conservatively
@@ -1137,8 +1187,14 @@ class PointerDiffInstruction extends PointerArithmeticInstruction {
 class UnaryInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnaryInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof UnaryOpcode }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final UnaryOperand getUnaryOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the sole operand of this instruction.
+   */
   final Instruction getUnary() { result = getUnaryOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
@@ -1177,6 +1233,19 @@ class CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
   CheckedConvertOrThrowInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CheckedConvertOrThrow }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the complete object that contains the subobject
+ * pointed to by its operand.
+ *
+ * If the operand holds a null address, the result is a null address.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent `dyanmic_cast<void*>` in C++, which returns the pointer to
+ * the most-derived object.
+ */
+class CompleteObjectAddressInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  CompleteObjectAddressInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CompleteObjectAddress }
+}
+
 /**
  * An instruction that converts the address of an object to the address of a different subobject of
  * the same object, without any type checking at runtime.
@@ -1453,7 +1522,7 @@ class CallInstruction extends Instruction {
    * Gets the `Function` that the call targets, if this is statically known.
    */
   final Language::Function getStaticCallTarget() {
-    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
+    result = getCallTarget().(FunctionAddressInstruction).getFunctionSymbol()
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1516,9 +1585,10 @@ class CallSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the side effect of a function call on any memory
- * that might be read by that call. This instruction is emitted instead of
- * `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it's certain that the call target cannot
- * write to escaped memory.
+ * that might be read by that call.
+ *
+ * This instruction is emitted instead of `CallSideEffectInstruction` when it is certain that the
+ * call target cannot write to escaped memory.
  */
 class CallReadSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
   CallReadSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::CallReadSideEffect }
@@ -1566,7 +1636,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferReadSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes read from the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1576,7 +1654,15 @@ class SizedBufferReadSideEffectInstruction extends ReadSideEffectInstruction {
 class WriteSideEffectInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction, IndexedInstruction {
   WriteSideEffectInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof WriteSideEffectOpcode }
 
-  Instruction getArgumentDef() { result = getAnOperand().(AddressOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Get the operand that holds the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  final AddressOperand getDestinationAddressOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the address of the memory to be written.
+   */
+  Instruction getDestinationAddress() { result = getDestinationAddressOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1607,11 +1693,20 @@ class SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructi
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMustWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the potential write of an indirect parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `IndirectWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the location might not be completely overwritten.
  * written.
  */
@@ -1623,6 +1718,7 @@ class IndirectMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1631,6 +1727,7 @@ class BufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
 
 /**
  * An instruction representing the write of an indirect buffer parameter within a function call.
+ *
  * Unlike `BufferWriteSideEffectInstruction`, the buffer might not be completely overwritten.
  */
 class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1638,11 +1735,19 @@ class SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffectInstruction extends WriteSideEffectInstructio
     getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::SizedBufferMayWriteSideEffect
   }
 
-  Instruction getSizeDef() { result = getAnOperand().(BufferSizeOperand).getDef() }
+  /**
+   * Gets the operand that holds the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final BufferSizeOperand getBufferSizeOperand() { result = getAnOperand() }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the instruction whose result provides the number of bytes written to the buffer.
+   */
+  final Instruction getBufferSize() { result = getBufferSizeOperand().getDef() }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, e.g. the result of a
+ * An instruction representing the initial value of newly allocated memory, such as the result of a
  * call to `malloc`.
  */
 class InitializeDynamicAllocationInstruction extends SideEffectInstruction {
@@ -1860,17 +1965,20 @@ class ChiInstruction extends Instruction {
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing unreachable code. Inserted in place of the original target
- * instruction of a `ConditionalBranch` or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is
- * infeasible.
+ * An instruction representing unreachable code.
+ *
+ * This instruction is inserted in place of the original target instruction of a `ConditionalBranch`
+ * or `Switch` instruction where that particular edge is infeasible.
  */
 class UnreachedInstruction extends Instruction {
   UnreachedInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::Unreached }
 }
 
 /**
- * An instruction representing a built-in operation. This is used to represent
- * operations such as access to variable argument lists.
+ * An instruction representing a built-in operation.
+ *
+ * This is used to represent a variety of intrinsic operations provided by the compiler
+ * implementation, such as vector arithmetic.
  */
 class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
   Language::BuiltInOperation operation;
@@ -1880,6 +1988,10 @@ class BuiltInOperationInstruction extends Instruction {
     operation = Raw::getInstructionBuiltInOperation(this)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the language-specific `BuildInOperation` object that specifies the operation that is
+   * performed by this instruction.
+   */
   final Language::BuiltInOperation getBuiltInOperation() { result = operation }
 }
 
@@ -1892,3 +2004,59 @@ class BuiltInInstruction extends BuiltInOperationInstruction {
 
   final override string getImmediateString() { result = getBuiltInOperation().toString() }
 }
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns a `va_list` to access the arguments passed to the `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `IREllipsisVariable` used to represent the `...`
+ * parameter. The result is a `va_list` that initially refers to the first argument that was passed
+ * to the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class VarArgsStartInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsStartInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsStart }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that cleans up a `va_list` after it is no longer in use.
+ *
+ * The operand specifies the address of the `va_list` to clean up. This instruction does not return
+ * a result.
+ */
+class VarArgsEndInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgsEndInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArgsEnd }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that returns the address of the argument currently pointed to by a `va_list`.
+ *
+ * The operand is the `va_list` that points to the argument. The result is the address of the
+ * argument.
+ */
+class VarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  VarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::VarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that modifies a `va_list` to point to the next argument that was passed to the
+ * `...` parameter.
+ *
+ * The operand is the current `va_list`. The result is an updated `va_list` that points to the next
+ * argument of the `...` parameter.
+ */
+class NextVarArgInstruction extends UnaryInstruction {
+  NextVarArgInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NextVarArg }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An instruction that allocates a new object on the managed heap.
+ *
+ * This instruction is used to represent the allocation of a new object in C# using the `new`
+ * expression. This instruction does not invoke a constructor for the object. Instead, there will be
+ * a subsequent `Call` instruction to invoke the appropriate constructor directory, passing the
+ * result of the `NewObj` as the `this` argument.
+ *
+ * The result is the address of the newly allocated object.
+ */
+class NewObjInstruction extends Instruction {
+  NewObjInstruction() { getOpcode() instanceof Opcode::NewObj }
+}
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll
index f82704094c8..468687b0aca 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/Operand.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Provides classes that represent the input values of IR instructions.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import Instruction
 private import IRBlock
@@ -78,10 +82,17 @@ private PhiOperandBase phiOperand(
  * A source operand of an `Instruction`. The operand represents a value consumed by the instruction.
  */
 class Operand extends TOperand {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this element. */
   string toString() { result = "Operand" }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the location of the source code for this operand.
+   */
   final Language::Location getLocation() { result = getUse().getLocation() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the function that contains this operand.
+   */
   final IRFunction getEnclosingIRFunction() { result = getUse().getEnclosingIRFunction() }
 
   /**
@@ -270,6 +281,9 @@ class NonPhiOperand extends Operand {
 
   final override int getDumpSortOrder() { result = tag.getSortOrder() }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the `OperandTag` that specifies how this operand is used by its `Instruction`.
+   */
   final OperandTag getOperandTag() { result = tag }
 }
 
@@ -292,6 +306,9 @@ class RegisterOperand extends NonPhiOperand, RegisterOperandBase {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand other than the operand of a `Phi` instruction.
+ */
 class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOperandBase {
   override MemoryOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -313,6 +330,9 @@ class NonPhiMemoryOperand extends NonPhiOperand, MemoryOperand, NonPhiMemoryOper
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A memory operand whose type may be different from the type of the result of its definition.
+ */
 class TypedOperand extends NonPhiMemoryOperand {
   override TypedOperandTag tag;
 
@@ -416,6 +436,9 @@ class PositionalArgumentOperand extends ArgumentOperand {
   final int getIndex() { result = tag.getArgIndex() }
 }
 
+/**
+ * An operand representing memory read as a side effect of evaluating another instruction.
+ */
 class SideEffectOperand extends TypedOperand {
   override SideEffectOperandTag tag;
 }
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
index d9c0df44e12..b3e3a5b1195 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/experimental/ir/implementation/unaliased_ssa/PrintIR.qll
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * Outputs a representation of the IR as a control flow graph.
+ *
+ * This file contains the actual implementation of `PrintIR.ql`. For test cases and very small
+ * databases, `PrintIR.ql` can be run directly to dump the IR for the entire database. For most
+ * uses, however, it is better to write a query that imports `PrintIR.qll`, extends
+ * `PrintIRConfiguration`, and overrides `shouldPrintFunction()` to select a subset of functions to
+ * dump.
+ */
+
 private import internal.IRInternal
 private import IR
 private import internal.PrintIRImports as Imports
@@ -9,6 +19,7 @@ private newtype TPrintIRConfiguration = MkPrintIRConfiguration()
  * The query can extend this class to control which functions are printed.
  */
 class PrintIRConfiguration extends TPrintIRConfiguration {
+  /** Gets a textual representation of this configuration. */
   string toString() { result = "PrintIRConfiguration" }
 
   /**
@@ -47,7 +58,7 @@ private newtype TPrintableIRNode =
 /**
  * A node to be emitted in the IR graph.
  */
-abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
+abstract private class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
   abstract string toString();
 
   /**
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ abstract class PrintableIRNode extends TPrintableIRNode {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing a `IRFunction` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
+private class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
   IRFunction irFunc;
 
   PrintableIRFunction() { this = TPrintableIRFunction(irFunc) }
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ class PrintableIRFunction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRFunction {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `IRBlock` object.
  */
-class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
+private class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
   IRBlock block;
 
   PrintableIRBlock() { this = TPrintableIRBlock(block) }
@@ -161,7 +172,7 @@ class PrintableIRBlock extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableIRBlock {
 /**
  * An IR graph node representing an `Instruction`.
  */
-class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
+private class PrintableInstruction extends PrintableIRNode, TPrintableInstruction {
   Instruction instr;
 
   PrintableInstruction() { this = TPrintableInstruction(instr) }
@@ -224,6 +235,9 @@ private string getPaddingString(int n) {
   n > 0 and n <= maxColumnWidth() and result = getPaddingString(n - 1) + " "
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `node` belongs to the output graph, and its property `key` has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate nodes(PrintableIRNode node, string key, string value) {
   value = node.getProperty(key)
 }
@@ -237,6 +251,10 @@ private int getSuccessorIndex(IRBlock pred, IRBlock succ) {
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if the output graph contains an edge from `pred` to `succ`, and that edge's property `key`
+ * has the given `value`.
+ */
 query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key, string value) {
   exists(EdgeKind kind, IRBlock predBlock, IRBlock succBlock |
     predBlock = pred.getBlock() and
@@ -256,6 +274,9 @@ query predicate edges(PrintableIRBlock pred, PrintableIRBlock succ, string key,
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds if `parent` is the parent node of `child` in the output graph.
+ */
 query predicate parents(PrintableIRNode child, PrintableIRNode parent) {
   parent = child.getParent()
 }