What is a timeout decorator in Python?

What is a timeout decorator in Python?

A timeout decorator in Python is a function that limits the execution time of another function.

How do I implement a timeout decorator?

You can use the signal module to create a timeout decorator that raises an exception if the function takes too long.

Can you show me an example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import signal

def timeout_decorator(timeout):
    def decorator(func):
        def handler(signum, frame):
            raise TimeoutError('Function timed out')
        signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, handler)
        def wrapped(*args, **kwargs):
            signal.alarm(timeout)
            try:
                return func(*args, **kwargs)
            finally:
                signal.alarm(0)
        return wrapped
    return decorator

@timeout_decorator(5)
def long_running_function():
    # Simulate a long-running process
    time.sleep(10)

long_running_function()  # This will raise a TimeoutError

What happens if the function exceeds the timeout?

If the function exceeds the timeout, a TimeoutError is raised, which you can handle in your code.