What are some practical uses of decorators in Python?

What are some practical uses of decorators in Python?

Decorators in Python are a powerful tool for modifying the behavior of functions or methods. They can be used for logging, enforcing access control, instrumentation, and more.

Can you give me an example of a logging decorator?

Sure! Here's a simple logging decorator:

def log_function_call(func):
    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
        print(f'Calling {func.__name__} with arguments {args} and {kwargs}')
        return func(*args, **kwargs)
    return wrapper

@log_function_call
def my_function(x, y):
    return x + y

How can I use decorators for access control?

You can create a decorator that checks user permissions before allowing access to a function. For example:

def requires_permission(permission):
    def decorator(func):
        def wrapper(user, *args, **kwargs):
            if user.has_permission(permission):
                return func(user, *args, **kwargs)
            else:
                raise PermissionError('Access denied')
        return wrapper
    return decorator

Are there any built-in decorators in Python?

Yes, Python has several built-in decorators like @staticmethod, @classmethod, and @property that are commonly used in class definitions.