How to Check a Variable’s Type in Python

To check the type of a variable in Python, you can use the built-in type() function. The type() function returns the type of the variable as a string. Here’s how you can use it:

x = 5
print(type(x))  # Output: 

y = "Hello, world!"
print(type(y))  # Output: 

z = [1, 2, 3]
print(type(z))  # Output: 

In the example above, we define three variables x, y, and z with different types: an integer, a string, and a list. By calling the type() function and passing the variable as an argument, we can determine the type of each variable.

It’s important to note that the type() function returns the exact type of the variable, including any custom classes or modules. For example:

import math

circle_radius = 5.0
print(type(circle_radius))  # Output: 

print(type(math))  # Output: 

In this example, we import the math module and define a variable circle_radius with a floating-point value. The type() function correctly identifies the type of circle_radius as a float. Similarly, it recognizes the math module as a module.

Using the isinstance() Function

In addition to the type() function, Python provides the isinstance() function to check if a variable is an instance of a particular class or type. The isinstance() function returns True if the variable is an instance of the specified class or type, and False otherwise.

Here’s an example that demonstrates the usage of the isinstance() function:

x = 5
print(isinstance(x, int))  # Output: True
print(isinstance(x, float))  # Output: False

y = [1, 2, 3]
print(isinstance(y, list))  # Output: True
print(isinstance(y, tuple))  # Output: False

In this example, we use the isinstance() function to check if the variables x and y are instances of specific classes or types. The first print() statement returns True because x is an instance of the int class. The second print() statement returns False because x is not an instance of the float class.

Similarly, the third print() statement returns True because y is an instance of the list class. The fourth print() statement returns False because y is not an instance of the tuple class.

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Best Practices

When checking the type of a variable, it’s good practice to use the isinstance() function instead of the type() function in most cases. The isinstance() function allows you to perform more specific type checks and is more flexible when working with inheritance and class hierarchies.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

1. Use the isinstance() function when you need to check if a variable is an instance of a specific class or type.

2. Use the type() function when you only need to determine the general type of a variable.

3. Avoid relying too heavily on type checking in your code. Python is a dynamically-typed language, and it’s often more effective to use duck typing and rely on the behavior of objects rather than their specific types.

4. If you need to perform different actions based on the type of a variable, consider using polymorphism and object-oriented design principles instead of explicit type checks.

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