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ReferenceBuilt-in functions

Python type() Function

By (LinkedIn) · Every code example is run and checked on Python 3.13 (how we test) · Last updated

Short answer
type(obj) returns the class of an object, such as <class 'int'> or <class 'str'>, so you can see what kind of value a variable holds.

Every value in Python has a type, and type() tells you which one. It is most useful while learning and debugging, for example to find out why \"5\" + 3 fails or what kind of object a function really returned. See the data types lesson for the full tour of built-in types.

For deciding what code to run based on a type, the usual tool is isinstance(), explained below.

Syntaxtype(obj)
Parametersobj: any value
ReturnsThe class (type object) of obj
Other formtype(name, bases, namespace) creates a new class; this is advanced and rarely needed

What type() returns for common values

Valuetype() resultName only
42<class 'int'>type(42).__name__ gives int
3.14<class 'float'>float
'hi'<class 'str'>str
[1, 2]<class 'list'>list
(1, 2)<class 'tuple'>tuple
{'a': 1}<class 'dict'>dict
True<class 'bool'>bool
None<class 'NoneType'>NoneType

type() vs isinstance(): which one to use for checking types

Comparing with type(x) is int accepts only the exact class. That sounds strict, but it surprises you with subclasses: bool is a subclass of int, so True passes isinstance(True, int) yet fails type(True) is int. In most programs you want isinstance(), which respects inheritance and also accepts a tuple of types such as isinstance(x, (int, float)).

Python 
flag = True
print(type(flag) is int)
print(isinstance(flag, int))
print(isinstance(3.5, (int, float)))





Use type() to display or log a type, and isinstance() to make decisions.

      
      
    

    
    
    

      
Using type() to debug conversion problems

      
Many beginner errors come from a value having a different type than you assumed. Text read with input() is always a str, and numbers read from files or CSVs arrive as text too. Printing type(value) shows the cause immediately, and the fix is usually a conversion with int() or float(). The casting lesson covers these conversions.

      
      
    

    
    

    
    

      
Examples you can run

      
Press Run, then edit the code and run it again.

      
      

        
Check the type of different values

        
Print type() for each kind of value.

        

  

    Check the type of different values
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
print(type(42))
print(type(3.14))
print(type("hello"))
print(type([1, 2, 3]))
print(type(None))

  
  
  
  

    
      
      
    
    
  

  
Expected output<class 'int'>
<class 'float'>
<class 'str'>
<class 'list'>
<class 'NoneType'>




      

      
      

        
Find out why arithmetic gives a surprise

        
Both values print as 10, but one is text. The types reveal it.

        

  

    Find out why arithmetic gives a surprise
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
quantity = "10"
stock = 10
print(quantity, stock)
print(type(quantity).__name__, type(stock).__name__)
print(quantity == stock)

  
  
  
  

    
      
      
    
    
  

  
Expected output10 10
str int
False




      

      
      

        
Handle several types with isinstance()

        
A small helper that treats ints and floats the same way.

        

  

    Handle several types with isinstance()
    

      
      
      
      
    

  

  
def describe(value):
    if isinstance(value, (int, float)):
        return "number"
    if isinstance(value, str):
        return "text"
    return "other"

print(describe(7), describe(2.5), describe("hi"), describe([]))

  
  
  
  

    
      
      
    
    
  

  
Expected outputnumber number text other




      

      
    

    

    
    

      
Common mistakes

      
      

        
Comparing type() with a string

        

          
✗ Wrong
x = 5
print(type(x) == "int")
No error, but it prints False because a class is never equal to a string

          
✓ Right
x = 5
print(type(x) == int)
print(isinstance(x, int))

        

        
Compare with the class itself, or use isinstance().

      

      
      

        
Naming a variable type

        

          
✗ Wrong
type = "fruit"
print(type(42))
TypeError: 'str' object is not callable

          
✓ Right
kind = "fruit"
print(type(42))

        

        
Your variable hides the built-in function. Pick another name such as kind or item_type.

      

      
      

        
Rejecting bool when checking for int

        

          
✗ Wrong
flag = True
print(isinstance(flag, int))
Prints True, which may be unexpected

          
✓ Right
flag = True
print(isinstance(flag, int) and not isinstance(flag, bool))

        

        
bool is a subclass of int. If you must exclude it, test isinstance(flag, bool) first.

      

      
    

    

    
    

      
Python type() Function: questions people ask

      
How do I check the type of a variable in Python?
Call type(variable), for example type(price) shows <class 'float'>. Add .__name__ to get just float.
What is the difference between type() and isinstance()?
type() returns the exact class, while isinstance() also accepts subclasses and several types at once. Prefer isinstance() for checks.
How do I print only the type name in Python?
Use type(x).__name__, which gives a plain string such as 'list' instead of <class 'list'>.

    

    

    
    

      
Keep learning

      
Step-by-step lessons:
Python Data TypesPython Casting

      
Related:
Python isinstance() FunctionPython int() FunctionPython str() FunctionPython Mutable vs Immutable Objects Explained

      
More in built-in functions:
Python print() FunctionPython len() FunctionPython range() FunctionPython int() FunctionPython float() FunctionPython str() FunctionPython input() FunctionPython sum() Function See all →