Python type() Function

The type() function is used to get the type of an object or to dynamically create a new class.

Function Syntax

This function has two uses:

1. Get the Type of an Object

type(object)

The function returns the type of object.

2. Dynamically Create a Class

type(name, bases, dict)

Parameters:

• name: The name of the class to create.
• bases: A tuple containing the parent classes to inherit from.
• dict: A dictionary containing attributes and methods.

The function returns a newly created class.

Examples of the type() Function

Checking the types of different objects:

print(type(123))       # <class 'int'>
print(type(3.14))      # <class 'float'>
print(type("Hello"))   # <class 'str'>
print(type([1, 2, 3])) # <class 'list'>
print(type((1, 2, 3))) # <class 'tuple'>
print(type({"a": 1}))  # <class 'dict'>
print(type(True))      # <class 'bool'>

import math
print(type(math))      # <class 'module'>

When three arguments are passed, a class can be dynamically created:

MyClass = type('MyClass', (), {'x': 10})

obj = MyClass()
print(obj.x)  # 10

Creating a class with methods:

def child_init(self):
    super(Child,self).__init__()
    self.y = 20

def say(self):
    print("hello!")

class Parent:
    def __init__(self):
        self.x = 10


Child = type('Child', (Parent,), {
    '__init__': child_init,
    'say': say
})

obj = Child()
print(obj.x) # 10
print(obj.y) # 20
obj.say()    # hello!