What are 'decorators' in Python?

In Python, decorators are a powerful tool that allows you to modify or enhance the behavior of functions or methods. They are typically used to wrap another function in order to extend its behavior without permanently modifying it. This can be useful for adding functionality such as logging, access control, memoization, or enforcing certain conditions before the function is executed.

When a decorator is applied to a function, it takes that original function as an argument, wraps it with additional code, and returns a new function that has the same behavior as the original but with the added enhancements. This allows for a clear and readable implementation of design patterns and reusable code without cluttering the original function with additional logic.

This concept is central to Python's flexibility and lay the groundwork for creating clean and maintainable code. Decorators are not limited to modifying global variables, handling exceptions, or restricting function scope, which distinguishes them from other concepts in Python.