diff --git a/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js b/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js
index 7818bf2988..3d254d6861 100644
--- a/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js
+++ b/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js
@@ -5,45 +5,84 @@ define(
     function () {
         "use strict";
 
+        // Set of connection states; changing among these states will be
+        // reflected in the indicator's appearance.
+        // CONNECTED: Everything nominal, expect to be able to read/write.
+        // DISCONNECTED: HTTP failed; maybe misconfigured, disconnected.
+        // SEMICONNECTED: Connected to the database, but it reported an error.
+        // PENDING: Still trying to connect, and haven't failed yet.
         var CONNECTED = {
                 text: "Connected",
-                glyphClass: "ok"
+                glyphClass: "ok",
+                description: "Connected to the domain object database."
             },
             DISCONNECTED = {
                 text: "Disconnected",
-                glyphClass: "err"
+                glyphClass: "err",
+                description: "Unable to connect to the domain object database."
+            },
+            SEMICONNECTED = {
+                text: "Unavailable",
+                glyphClass: "caution",
+                description: "Database does not exist or is unavailable."
             },
             PENDING = {
                 text: "Checking connection..."
             };
 
+        /**
+         * Indicator for the current CouchDB connection. Polls CouchDB
+         * at a regular interval (defined by bundle constants) to ensure
+         * that the database is available.
+         */
         function CouchIndicator($http, $interval, PATH, INTERVAL) {
+            // Track the current connection state
             var state = PENDING;
 
+            // Callback if the HTTP request to Couch fails
             function handleError(err) {
                 state = DISCONNECTED;
             }
 
+            // Callback if the HTTP request succeeds. CouchDB may
+            // report an error, so check for that.
             function handleResponse(response) {
                 var data = response.data;
-
                 state = data.error ? DISCONNECTED : CONNECTED;
             }
 
+            // Try to connect to CouchDB, and update the indicator.
             function updateIndicator() {
                 $http.get(PATH).then(handleResponse, handleError);
             }
 
+            // Update the indicator initially, and start polling.
             updateIndicator();
             $interval(updateIndicator, INTERVAL);
 
             return {
+                /**
+                 * Get the glyph (single character used as an icon)
+                 * to display in this indicator. This will return "D",
+                 * which should appear as a database icon.
+                 * @returns {string} the character of the database icon
+                 */
                 getGlyph: function () {
                     return "D";
                 },
+                /**
+                 * Get the name of the CSS class to apply to the glyph.
+                 * This is used to color the glyph to match its
+                 * state (one of ok, caution or err)
+                 * @returns {string} the CSS class to apply to this glyph
+                 */
                 getGlyphClass: function () {
                     return state.glyphClass;
                 },
+                /**
+                 * Get the text that should appear in the indicator.
+                 * @returns {string} brief summary of connection status
+                 */
                 getText: function () {
                     return state.text;
                 }