What is the difference between a decorator and a closure in Python?
Gable E

In Python, decorators and closures are both advanced concepts that involve functions, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Here's a detailed explanation of the differences between decorators and closures: Decorators: - Definition: A decorator is a design pattern in Python that allows you to modify the behavior of a function or a class by wrapping it with another function. It provides a way to add functionality to existing functions or classes without modifying their source code directly. - Usage: Decorators are commonly used to implement cross-cutting concerns such as logging, authentication, memoization, or timing measurements. They enhance the behavior of functions or classes without changing their core implementation. - Syntax: Decorators are denoted by the@decorator_name syntax, placed above the function or class definition to be decorated. - Example:

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def logger_decorator(func):
    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
   print(f"Calling function: {func.__name__}")
   result = func(*args, **kwargs)
   print(f"Function {func.__name__} executed.")
   return result
    return wrapper

@logger_decorator
def add_numbers(a, b):
    return a + b

result = add_numbers(5, 3)
print(result)

In this example, thelogger_decorator is a decorator function that wraps theadd_numbers() function. It adds logging statements before and after the execution ofadd_numbers(). The@logger_decorator syntax is used to apply the decorator to theadd_numbers() function. Closures: - Definition: A closure is a function object that remembers values in the enclosing scope even if they are not present in memory. It allows a function to access and manipulate variables that are defined outside its own scope. - Usage: Closures are commonly used to create function factories, where a function returns another function with specific behavior based on the captured variables from the outer scope. - Implementation: Closures are created when a nested function references variables from its containing function. The nested function retains access to those variables even when the outer function has finished execution. - Example:

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def outer_function(x):
    def inner_function(y):
   return x + y
    return inner_function

add_5 = outer_function(5)
result = add_5(3)
print(result)

In this example, theouter_function() returns theinner_function(), which adds the captured variablex to the argumenty. Theadd_5 variable becomes a closure, as it retains access to the variablex even after theouter_function() has completed. Summary: In summary, decorators are used to modify the behavior of functions or classes by wrapping them with another function, enhancing their functionality without directly modifying their source code. On the other hand, closures are functions that remember values from the enclosing scope, enabling them to access and manipulate variables defined outside their own scope. Understanding the differences between decorators and closures helps you leverage these advanced features of Python for code organization, reusability, and adding additional functionality to functions or classes.

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