How to Effectively Determine Object Types in Python: `type()` vs. `isinstance()`?

How to Determine the Type of an Object in Python

In Python, there are several ways to determine the type of an object. Two of the most commonly used methods are type() and isinstance().

Using type()

The type() function returns the exact type of an object. For example:

>>> type([])
<class 'list'>
>>> type({})
<class 'dict'>

Using isinstance()

The isinstance() function checks if an object is of a specified type or a subtype of that type. It accepts two arguments: the object to be checked and the type or tuple of types to check against. For instance:

>>> isinstance([], list)
True
>>> isinstance({}, dict)
 True

Inheritance Considerations

isinstance() can also be used to determine if an object inherits from a specific type. For example:

class Test1(object):
    pass

class Test2(Test1):
    pass

obj1 = Test1()
obj2 = Test2()

>>> isinstance(obj1, Test1)
 True
>>> isinstance(obj2, Test1)  
 True

Choosing Between type() and isinstance()

isinstance() is more robust and supports type inheritance. It should be used in most cases to determine the type of an object. type() is only recommended when you need the exact type object of the object.

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