What are the best practices for using the decorator pattern in programming?

What are the best practices for using the decorator pattern in programming?

The decorator pattern is great for adding functionality to objects dynamically. Best practices include keeping decorators small and focused, ensuring they are reusable, and using them to adhere to the Single Responsibility Principle.

Can you give an example of a simple decorator?

Sure! Here's a simple example in Python:

def uppercase_decorator(func):
    def wrapper():
        result = func()
        return result.upper()
    return wrapper

@uppercase_decorator
def greet():
    return 'hello'

print(greet())  # Output: HELLO

What are some common pitfalls to avoid?

Common pitfalls include overusing decorators, which can lead to complex code, and not documenting them properly, making it hard for others to understand their purpose.

How do decorators affect performance?

Decorators can introduce some overhead due to additional function calls, but if used wisely, the performance impact is usually minimal compared to the benefits they provide in code organization and readability.