diff --git a/changelog.d/12211.misc b/changelog.d/12211.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d11634a1ee0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/12211.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Improve code documentation for the typing stream over replication.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/typing.py b/synapse/handlers/typing.py
index 3b8912652856..6854428b7ca5 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/typing.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/typing.py
@@ -160,8 +160,9 @@ def process_replication_rows(
         """Should be called whenever we receive updates for typing stream."""
 
         if self._latest_room_serial > token:
-            # The master has gone backwards. To prevent inconsistent data, just
-            # clear everything.
+            # The typing worker has gone backwards (e.g. it may have restarted).
+            # To prevent inconsistent data, just clear everything.
+            logger.info("Typing handler stream went backwards; resetting")
             self._reset()
 
         # Set the latest serial token to whatever the server gave us.
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py
index 0d2013a3cfc5..adc5b2a99d86 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/handler.py
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ def send_remote_server_up(self, server: str) -> None:
         self.send_command(RemoteServerUpCommand(server))
 
     def stream_update(self, stream_name: str, token: Optional[int], data: Any) -> None:
-        """Called when a new update is available to stream to clients.
+        """Called when a new update is available to stream to Redis subscribers.
 
         We need to check if the client is interested in the stream or not
         """
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py
index 494e42a2be8f..a18e90a4b33a 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/resource.py
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ def buildProtocol(self, addr: IAddress) -> ServerReplicationStreamProtocol:
 class ReplicationStreamer:
     """Handles replication connections.
 
-    This needs to be poked when new replication data may be available. When new
-    data is available it will propagate to all connected clients.
+    This needs to be poked when new replication data may be available.
+    When new data is available it will propagate to all Redis subscribers.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
     def on_notifier_poke(self) -> None:
         """Checks if there is actually any new data and sends it to the
-        connections if there are.
+        Redis subscribers if there are.
 
         This should get called each time new data is available, even if it
         is currently being executed, so that nothing gets missed
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/_base.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/_base.py
index 23d631a76944..495f2f0285ba 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/_base.py
@@ -316,7 +316,19 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 class TypingStream(Stream):
     @attr.s(slots=True, frozen=True, auto_attribs=True)
     class TypingStreamRow:
+        """
+        An entry in the typing stream.
+        Describes all the users that are 'typing' right now in one room.
+
+        When a user stops typing, it will be streamed as a new update with that
+        user absent; you can think of the `user_ids` list as overwriting the
+        entire list that was there previously.
+        """
+
+        # The room that this update is for.
         room_id: str
+
+        # All the users that are 'typing' right now in the specified room.
         user_ids: List[str]
 
     NAME = "typing"