What are metaclass in Python?

In Python, a metaclass is a class that defines the behavior of other classes. In other words, a metaclass is a class that creates classes.

When you create a class in Python, it is actually an instance of its metaclass. The default metaclass in Python is the type metaclass, but you can define your own metaclasses using the following syntax:

class MyMetaClass(type):
# metaclass definition goes here

In this example, MyMetaClass is a custom metaclass that is derived from the built-in type metaclass. The type metaclass is used by default to create new classes, but by defining a custom metaclass, you can change the behavior of class creation.

One of the most common use cases for metaclasses is to enforce certain rules or conventions on classes. For example, you could define a metaclass that ensures that all classes derived from a certain base class must implement a certain method or attribute. Another use case for metaclasses is to dynamically modify the behavior of a class at runtime.

It’s worth noting that metaclasses are a relatively advanced concept in Python, and are not frequently used in everyday programming. However, they can be a powerful tool for creating sophisticated and flexible object-oriented designs.