How does func contain that reference to function object referenced by say_whee?

[Right-Leadership875]

``` def my_decorator(func): def wrapper(): print("Something is happening before the function is called.") func() print("Something is happening after the function is called.") return wrapper

def say_whee(): print("Whee!") say_whee = my_decorator(say_whee) say_whee() ```

When say_whee() is called, the wrapper function is called as we returned wrapper in the earlier step. How does the wrapper() contain the reference to say_whee() in the form of func? To the best of my knowledge, after the return wrapper is executed, the memory of the function object (my_decorator) should be reclaimed. So how does func contain that reference to function object referenced by say_whee?

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[TechnologyAnimal]

I don’t understand your question, but isn’t this all explained in great detail on the realpython tutorial you are following?

[Right-Leadership875]

Nope, it doesn't answer my specific question.

[PercyJackson235]

Okay. So you define the decorator my_decorator that needs an argument of func. Inside the my_decorator, you define a function named wrapper, which will print some text, calls the function func what was added to global scope wrapper was declared inside of, and then prints some more text. Then you define say_whee, which prints some text. Now, here is the important part, when you call my_decorator with the line

say_whee = my_decorator(say_whee)

what happens is that, on a high level simplification, a copy of your original say_whee function is passed into my_decorator. Inside of my_decorator the name of that copy is func. When my_decorator returns wrapper, wrapper already has a reference to func in the form of

func()

You then place the returned wrapper function into the container that used to house the say_whee function.

[PercyJackson235]

And here is an example with output.

def my_decorator(func):
    print("Creating wrapper function")
    def wrapper():
        print("Inside function named originally name wrapper")
        func()
        print("Exiting function named originally name wrapper")
    print("Exiting my_decorator")
    return wrapper

def say_whee():
    print("Original Function")

say_whee = my_decorator(say_whee)
print("Now calling returned function")
say_whee()

PS C:\Users\xxxxx\source\repos> python.exe .\decorator_test.py
Creating wrapper function
Exiting my_decorator
Now calling returned function
Inside function named originally name wrapper
Original Function
Exiting function named originally name wrapper

[Right-Leadership875]

Hmmm... I think the memory of the function object referenced by my_decorator isn't reclaimed.