What is the difference between Python decorators and middleware?

What is the difference between Python decorators and middleware?

Python decorators are functions that modify the behavior of another function, while middleware is a layer that processes requests and responses in web applications.

Can you give me an example of a Python decorator?

Sure! A simple example is a logging decorator that logs the execution time of a function. Here's how it looks:

import time

def log_execution_time(func):
    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
        start_time = time.time()
        result = func(*args, **kwargs)
        end_time = time.time()
        print(f"Execution time: {end_time - start_time} seconds")
        return result
    return wrapper

@log_execution_time
def my_function():
    # function logic here

What about middleware? Can you show me an example?

Certainly! In a Flask application, middleware can be used to process requests before they reach the view function. Here's an example:

from flask import Flask, request

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.before_request
def before_request():
    print(f"Request URL: {request.url}")

@app.route('/')
def home():
    return 'Hello, World!'