Chapter 5: Metaprogramming and Dynamic Code in Python
Metaprogramming in Python provides developers with powerful tools to dynamically manipulate and generate classes and their behaviors at runtime. Essential techniques include utilizing metaclasses, dynamically creating methods and attributes, and leveraging the built-in type function for class generation. Although metaprogramming simplifies coding and enables the creation of advanced frameworks, it requires careful application to maintain code readability.
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Sections
Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.
What we have learnt
- Metaprogramming allows significant flexibility in Python by enabling code to manipulate itself.
- Metaclasses define the behavior of classes, allowing customization at the class creation level.
- Dynamic attributes and methods can be created and modified during execution, facilitating advanced programming patterns.
Key Concepts
- -- Metaprogramming
- A programming technique where code can manipulate other code or itself at runtime.
- -- Metaclass
- A class of a class, defining how classes behave and typically subclassed from type.
- -- type()
- A built-in function in Python that can be used to dynamically create new classes.
- -- Dynamic Attributes
- Attributes that can be added to classes or instances at runtime using functions like setattr.
- -- Custom Class Behavior
- Modifying class attributes and methods post-declaration to inject additional behavior.
- -- ORM
- Object Relational Mappers like Django, which use metaprogramming to map database tables to Python classes.
Additional Learning Materials
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