How can I use decorators for performance optimization in Python?

How can I use decorators for performance optimization in Python?

You can use decorators to cache results of expensive function calls, reducing the need for repeated calculations.

Can you show me an example of a caching decorator?

Sure! Here's a simple caching decorator:

import time

cache = {}

def cache_decorator(func):
    def wrapper(*args):
        if args in cache:
            return cache[args]
        result = func(*args)
        cache[args] = result
        return result
    return wrapper

@cache_decorator
def slow_function(x):
    time.sleep(2)  # Simulate a slow operation
    return x * 2

How does this caching work in practice?

When you call slow_function(5) for the first time, it will take 2 seconds. On subsequent calls with the same argument, it will return the cached result instantly.

Are there any downsides to using decorators for performance optimization?

Yes, caching can consume more memory, and if not managed properly, it may lead to stale data if the underlying data changes.