How can I use Python to get the type of a variable at runtime?

General Discussions
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1

I’m trying to debug a script and need to understand what type a variable holds, for example, whether it’s a string, integer, or even something more specific like an unsigned 32-bit value. What’s the best way in Python to get the type of a variable during execution?

2

I’ve been working with Python for a while, and one of the quickest ways I check a variable’s type is by using the built-in type() function. It’s super straightforward. Here’s an example:

x = 42
print(type(x))  # Output: <class 'int'>

This gives you the exact type of the variable, like int, str, list, etc. It’s really handy when debugging or just checking types during development.

3

Great point! I tend to pair type() with isinstance() whenever I need to branch logic based on the type. For example:

if isinstance(my_var, str):
    print("It's a string!")

This lets me check for types and implement conditional behavior accordingly. It feels more Pythonic and efficient in real-world applications, especially when you’re working with multiple possible types in your code.

4

That’s true! But sometimes, when you’re working with more complex data types, especially in scientific computing, type() won’t give you that granular level of detail. I often use NumPy for that. For example, checking for a specific numeric type like np.uint32:

import numpy as np

a = np.uint32(5)
print(type(a))  # Output: <class 'numpy.uint32'>

This is especially useful if you’re dealing with binary data or need to ensure specific data types for performance reasons in data-heavy applications. Python’s native types don’t always cover that, but libraries like NumPy give you that flexibility