Last Updated on March 3, 2023 by Prepbytes
Python is a popular high-level programming language used in various applications such as web development, data analysis, and scientific computing. One of the key features of Python is its ability to dynamically assign data types to variables. Python’s type function is a built-in function that allows us to identify the data type of a variable or value. This article will explain the type function in Python, and its syntax, and provide examples to illustrate its usage.
What is a Type Function in Python?
The type function is a built-in function in Python that allows us to identify the data type of a variable or value. It returns the class or type of an object or variable. In other words, it tells us what kind of data we are dealing with.
The type function is useful when we need to ensure that the variable or value we are working with is of a particular data type. It can be used to check whether the data type of an object or variable is the one we expect it to be. Before delving deep into the syntax and examples of type Function in Python, let us first understand the meaning of data types in brief.
Understanding Data Types in Python
In Python, data types are used to specify the type of data that a variable can hold. Python has a dynamic type system, which means that variables can change their data type during the program’s execution. We have several basic data types that are used most frequently. These data types include
- Integers: Integers are whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero. In Python, integers are represented by the int class.
- Floats: Floats are numbers with a decimal point. In Python, floats are represented by the float class.
- Strings: Strings are sequences of characters enclosed in quotation marks. In Python, strings are represented by the str class.
- Booleans: Booleans are logical values that can be either True or False. In Python, booleans are represented by the bool class.
Syntax of Type Function in Python
The type() function is a built-in Python function that is used to determine the type of an object. The syntax, parameters, and return value of the type() function are as follows:
type(object)or
type(name, bases, dict)Parameters of Type Function in Python
The type() Function takes either one parameter or three parameters. These parameters are explained below
- object (required): The object whose type needs to be determined.
- Name: A string containing the class’s name.
- Bases: A tuple that displays the base class’s individual components as a list.
- Dict (dictionary): A dictionary that aids in the creation of the class body.
Return Value of Type Function in Python
The type function in Python returns two types of values, which are:
-
If called with one parameter:
It returns < class “className”>. Here className is the name of the class to which the object belongs. -
If called with three parameters:
It returns a new type object.
Examples of Type Function in Python
Let’s take a look at some examples to understand how the type function works in Python.
Example 1: Identifying the Data Type of an Integer
In this example, we will use the type function to identify the data type of an integer variable.
Code:
x = 5
print(type(x))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, we defined an integer variable x with a value of 5. We then used the type function to identify the data type of x. The output shows that x is an integer.
Example 2: Identifying the Data Type of a Float
In this example, we will use the type function to identify the data type of a float variable.
Code:
y = 3.14
print(type(y))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, we defined a float variable y with a value of 3.14. We then used the type function to identify the data type of y. The output shows that y is a float.
Example 3: Identifying the Data Type of a String
In this example, we will use the type function to identify the data type of a string variable.
Code:
z = "Hello World"
print(type(z))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, we defined a string variable z with the value "Hello World". We then used the type function to identify the data type of z. The output shows that z is a string.
Example 4: Identifying the Data Type of a Boolean
In this example, we will use the type function to identify the data type of a boolean variable.
Code:
a = True
print(type(a))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, we defined a boolean variable a with the value True. We then used the type function to identify the data type of a. The output shows that a is a boolean.
Example 5: Identifying the Data Type of a List
In this example, we will use the type function to identify the data type of a list variable.
Code:
b = [1, 2, 3]
print(type(b))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, we defined a list variable b with the values [1, 2, 3]. We then used the type function to identify the data type of b. The output shows that b is a list.
Example 6: Determining the Type of a Dictionary
In this example, we will use the type function in python for identifying the data type of a dictionary.
Code:
dictionary = {"name": "John", "age": 30, "city": "New York"}
print(type(dictionary))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, the type() function is used to determine the type of the variable dictionary, which is a dictionary. The output of the program is dict, which stands for dictionary.
Example 7: Determining the Type of a Function
Let us see, how we can determine the type of function using the type Function in Python.
Code:
def greet(name):
print("Hello, " + name + "!")
print(type(greet))Output:
Explanation:
In this example, the type() function is used to determine the type of the function greet. The output of the program is function, which stands for function.
Conclusion
The type function in Python is a useful built-in function that allows us to identify the data type of a variable or value. It returns the class or type of an object or variable. The type function is useful when we need to ensure that the variable or value we are working with is of a particular data type. Python has several built-in data types, including integers, floats, strings, booleans, lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries. Understanding data types in Python is essential when working with the type function.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the type function in Python:
Ques 1. What data types can the type function identify in Python?
Ans. The type function in Python can identify the data type of most objects, including integers, floats, strings, booleans, lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries.
Ques 2. Can the type function be used to change the data type of a variable in Python?
Ans. No, the type function in Python only identifies the data type of a variable or value. To change the data type of a variable in Python, you would need to use a different function or method, such as int(), float(), str(), or bool().
Ques 3. Can the type function return a custom data type in Python?
Ans. Yes, the type function in Python can return custom data types that have been defined by the user. However, this requires defining a custom class and creating objects from that class, which is beyond the scope of this article.
Ques 4. How does the type function differ from the isinstance function in Python?
Ans. The type function and the isinstance function are similar in that they both allow you to check the data type of a variable or object. However, the isinstance function is more flexible than the type function because it can also check if an object is an instance of a subclass of a particular class. For example, isinstance(obj, MyClass) will return True if obj is an instance of MyClass or any subclass of MyClass.
Ques 5. Can the type function be used to check the data type of a function in Python?
Ans. No, the type function in Python cannot be used to check the data type of a function. However, the callable function can be used to check if an object is callable, which can be useful when working with functions.