type() and isinstance() in Python with Examples

Python has many built-in functions. Using those functions, we can get a quick result. Out of many Python functions, type() and instance() are the two most commonly used methods. In python, everything is an object, so here we interchangeably use the terms methods and functions.

What is type() in Python?

The Python type() function is generally used to output the data type of the object. In Python, everything is an object. Using the type() method, we can grab the actual class of that object.

Python type() syntax:

The type() function can either accept 1 parameter, or 3 parameters

type(object)

type(name, base, dict)

The type() function with single Parameter

If we pass a single parameter object to type() function, it will return the data type of the object.

Example

number = 24
decimal_number = 25.78
string = "2543"

class MyClass():
    pass

myObj = MyClass()

print("The type of number is: ", type(number))
print("The type of decimal_number is: ", type(decimal_number))
print("The type of string  is: ", type(string))
print("The type of MyClass is: ", type(myObj))

Output

The type of number is:  <class 'int'>
The type of decimal_number is:  <class 'float'>
The type of string  is:  <class 'str'>
The type of MyClass is:  <class '__main__.MyClass'>

From the above example, you can see that if we pass a single object to the type() function, it returns its main class or data type. In Python, everything is defined under a class. That’s why we get such output < class ‘ str’> , < class ‘int’> , or < class ‘__main__.CustomClass_name> .

Python type(name, base, dict) function with three parameters

Using the type() method, we can also define a new type. Usually, we define a custom or user-defined class to define a new type, but using the type method, we can perform a similar function.

Syntax

type(name, base, dict)

Example

class MyClass:
    age = 20

my_obj = MyClass()
print("Type of Custom Class Object: ",type(my_obj))

#the above code is equivalent to

my_obj1 = type("MyClass1", (object,), dict(age=21))
print("Type of my_obj1", type(my_obj))
print("String representation of my_obj1:",my_obj1)

Output

Type of Custom Class Object:  <class '__main__.MyClass'>
Type of my_obj1 <class '__main__.MyClass'>
String representation of my_obj1: <class '__main__.MyClass1'>

What is isinstance() in Python?

The isinstance() is an inbuilt Python function. It accepts two parameters object and classtype, and return True if the object type is similar to the classtype; else, it returns False. It is generally used to check if the object data type is of a specific data type or not.

Python isinstance () syntax

isinstance(object, classtype) The object parameter is the instance, variable, or value which type we are comparing. The classtype is a class or type to which we are comparing the object data type. The isinstance() function returns a Boolean data type True or False

Python isinstace() function examples

Python integer check Example with isinstance:

number = 234
decimal_number = 234.3

print("Is number is an instance of int:", isinstance(number, int))
print("Is decimal_number is an instance of int: ", isinstance(decimal_number, int) )

Output

Is number is an instance of int: True
Is decimal_number is an instance of int:  False

Python string check Example with isinstance()

string = "234"
number= 234.3

print("Is string is an instance of str:", isinstance(string, str))
print("Is number is an instance of str: ", isinstance(number, str) )

Output

Is string is an instance of str: True
Is number is an instance of str:  False

Python class instance check Example with isinstance()

class Men:
    age = 20

class Women:
    age =18

rahul = Men()
ram = Men()

print("Is ram  is an instance of Men:", isinstance(ram, Men))
print("Is ram  is an instance of Women:", isinstance(ram, Women))
print("are  ram  and rahul instances of Men :", isinstance(ram, Men) == isinstance(rahul, Men))

Output

Is ram an instance of Men: True
Is ram an instance of Women: False
are ram and rahul instances of Men : True

Difference Between Python type() and isinstance() functions

Python type() Example Vs isinstance() example difference #Type()

class Human:
   living ="yes"

class Men(Human):
    mortal = "No"

#human type is <class '__main__.Human'>
print("Is Type of Human() is equal to Human:",type(Human())== Human)  

#Men type is <class '__main__.Men'>
print("Is type of Men() is equal to Human:",type(Men()) == Human)

Output

Is Type of Human() is equal to Human: True
Is type of Men() is equal to Human: False

#isinstance()

class Human:
   living ="yes"

class Men(Human):
    mortal = "No"

print("Is Human() is an instance of Human: ",isinstance(Human(), Human))
# True because of Inheritance
print("Is Men() is an instance of Human:",isinstance(Men(), Human))

Output

Is Human() is an instance of Human:  True
Is Men() is an instance of Human True

Summary

• Both type() and isinstance() are the built-in Python functions
• The type method can accept 1 or 3 parameters.
• With 1 argument type(object), the function returns the data type of the object.
• With 3 arguments type(name, objects, dict), the function returns a new class
• The isinstance(), check if the object is of a specific data type or class.
• The isinstance returns a boolean value.

People are also reading:

• Python Developer Skills
• Best Python GUI Frameworks
• Parse Data From JSON Into Python
• How to loop with indexes in Python
• Best Python Data Visualization Libraries
• How to Delete a File in Python?
• Python list vs Tuple
• Slice Lists/Arrays and Tuples in Python
• How to use Split in Python?
• Invalid Syntax Python