Writing Python Decorators That Accept Arguments

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Introduction

Decorators in Python are used to modify or extend the behavior of functions and methods. While basic decorators are useful, decorators with arguments unlock powerful patterns such as retry mechanisms, logging, and custom validations.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction

  • Basics of Decorators

  • Writing Decorators with Arguments

  • Sample Code

  • Use Cases

  • Conclusion

Basics of Decorators

A decorator is a function that wraps another function to modify its behavior. Decorators without arguments are simple wrappers.

Writing Decorators with Arguments

To create a decorator that accepts arguments, you need to nest three functions:

  1. Outer function (accepts the arguments for the decorator)

  2. Decorator function (accepts the target function)

  3. Wrapper function (executes the new logic)

Sample Code

python
def repeat(n):
def decorator(func):
def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
for _ in range(n):
func(*args, **kwargs)
return wrapper
return decorator

@repeat(3)
def say_hello():
print("Hello!")

say_hello()

Output:

Hello!
Hello!
Hello!

Use Cases

  • Retry failed operations

  • Logging and profiling

  • Authorization and validation

  • Caching function results

Conclusion

Decorators with arguments are a powerful tool in Python. With them, you can write modular, reusable, and configurable logic that cleanly wraps core functionality.

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