Understanding Python Type Hierarchy

Python is a dynamically types language, which means that the type of a variable is determined at runtime. Understanding the type hierarchy in Python is crucial for writing efficient and error-free code. This article will provide a detailed yet easy to understand overview of Python's type hierarchy. Basic Types int: Represents integer values. float: Represents floating-point numbers. complex: Represents complex numbers. bool: Represents Boolean values(True or False), which is a subclass of int. str: Represents string values, which are sequences of characters. Sequence Types Sequence types are collections that maintain the order of their elements and allow for indexing and slicing: str: Immutable sequence of characters. list: An ordered, mutable collection of items. tuple: An ordered, immutable collection of items. range: Represents an immutable sequence of numbers, commonly used for looping a specific number of times in for loops. Set Types Set types are collections of unique items: set: An unordered collection of unique items. frozenset: An immutable version of a set. Mapping Types Mapping types are collections of key-value pairs: dict: A collection of key-value pairs. Special Types There are also some special types in Python: NoneType: Represents the absence of a value, with a single instance None. type: The type of all types, including itself. Other Built-in Types Python also includes several other built-in types: bytes: Represents immutable sequences of bytes. bytearray: Represents mutable sequences of bytes. memoryview: Provides a view of the memory of another binary object.

Apr 22, 2025 - 18:26
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Understanding Python Type Hierarchy

Python is a dynamically types language, which means that the type of a variable is determined at runtime. Understanding the type hierarchy in Python is crucial for writing efficient and error-free code. This article will provide a detailed yet easy to understand overview of Python's type hierarchy.

Basic Types

  • int: Represents integer values.

  • float: Represents floating-point numbers.

  • complex: Represents complex numbers.

  • bool: Represents Boolean values(True or False), which is a subclass of int.

  • str: Represents string values, which are sequences of characters.

Sequence Types

Sequence types are collections that maintain the order of their elements and allow for indexing and slicing:

  • str: Immutable sequence of characters.

  • list: An ordered, mutable collection of items.

  • tuple: An ordered, immutable collection of items.

  • range: Represents an immutable sequence of numbers, commonly used for looping a specific number of times in for loops.

Set Types

Set types are collections of unique items:

  • set: An unordered collection of unique items.

  • frozenset: An immutable version of a set.

Mapping Types

Mapping types are collections of key-value pairs:

  • dict: A collection of key-value pairs.

Special Types

There are also some special types in Python:

  • NoneType: Represents the absence of a value, with a single instance None.

  • type: The type of all types, including itself.

Other Built-in Types

Python also includes several other built-in types:

  • bytes: Represents immutable sequences of bytes.

  • bytearray: Represents mutable sequences of bytes.

  • memoryview: Provides a view of the memory of another binary object.

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