Closures: Functions That Remember

Closures can be mystifying. Imagine a function inside another function, and the inner function remembers the outer function’s variables, even after the outer function has finished running.

Closures capture variables by reference, which is why beginners often stumble when using loops inside closures. They’re powerful once you understand that the inner function “remembers” its environment.

Context Managers: The “Clean-Up Crew” of Python

Have you ever forgot to close a file and wonder why your program is misbehaving?
Context managers prevent this headache.

When you use with, Python ensures that resources are properly acquired and released automatically. Think of it as hiring a clean-up crew: they take care of the dirty work while you focus on the important tasks.

with open('data.txt') as f:
    data = f.read()
# file is automatically closed here

You don’t have to remember to call f.close(). This small pattern prevents bugs, improves readability, and is a hallmark of professional Python code.