Can you apply decoration to a class in object-oriented programming?

Yes, in object-oriented programming, decoration can be applied to classes. This is implemented through the "Decorator" pattern — a wrapper around an object that adds new behavior without modifying the original class.

In Python, this is often done using decorator classes that accept an object in the constructor and override the necessary methods, supplementing or changing their behavior.

Example:

class Component:
    def operation(self):
        return "Basic behavior"

class Decorator:
    def __init__(self, component):
        self._component = component

    def operation(self):
        # Additional behavior before call
        result = self._component.operation()
        # Additional behavior after call
        return f"Decorated -> {result}"

# Usage
component = Component()
decorated = Decorator(component)
print(decorated.operation())  # Outputs: Decorated -> Basic behavior

Thus, decoration allows dynamically extending the functionality of objects without changing their code.