Type checking using type() in Python - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to check the type of variable x.

Python

x = 10
print(type([1]))

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atype

B10

C'x'

Dx

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Putting the value 10 directly inside type() instead of the variable.

Using quotes around the variable name.

Using type(x) returns the type of the variable x.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to check if y is of type str.

Python

y = 'hello'
if type(y) == [1]:
    print('y is a string')

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aint

Bstr

Cfloat

Dlist

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using quotes around 'str' which makes it a string literal, not a type.

Comparing to the wrong type like int or float.

The type of a string is str, so we compare type(y) to str.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly check if z is a list.

Python

z = [1, 2, 3]
if type(z) [1]:
    print('z is a list')

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Alist

Bstr

C== list

D== str

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using single equals = instead of double equals ==.

Putting the type inside quotes, making it a string.

The comparison operator should be ==, and the type to compare is list without quotes.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a dictionary of variable names and their types for a and b.

Python

a = 5
b = 'text'
types = {'a': [1], 'b': [2]
print(types)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atype(a)

Btype(b)

Ca

Db

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Putting the variable itself instead of its type.

Mixing up the variables inside type().

Use type(a) and type(b) to get the types of variables a and b.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary comprehension that maps each word to its type if the word is a string.

Python

items = [123, 'apple', 4.5]
types_dict = { [1] : [2] for [3] in items if type([3]) == str }
print(types_dict)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aitem

Btype(item)

Dword

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using different variable names inconsistently.

Not using type() to get the type.

Use item as the variable name, map it to type(item), and iterate with for item in items.

Practice

1. What does the type() function do in Python?

easy

A. It tells you the kind of data stored in a variable.

B. It changes the data type of a variable.

C. It prints the value of a variable.

D. It deletes a variable from memory.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of type()

   The type() function returns the data type of the given variable or value.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the function's purpose

   Only It tells you the kind of data stored in a variable. correctly states that type() tells the kind of data stored in a variable.

3. Final Answer:

   It tells you the kind of data stored in a variable. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   type() returns data type [OK]

Hint: Remember: type() shows data kind, not value or change [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking type() changes the variable's type
• Confusing type() with print()
• Assuming type() deletes variables

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to check the type of variable x?

easy

A. type x

B. type[x]

C. type(x)

D. check_type(x)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the syntax of the type() function

   The correct syntax uses parentheses around the variable: type(x).

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   type(x) matches the correct syntax. Options A and B use wrong brackets or missing parentheses. check_type(x) is not a valid Python function.

3. Final Answer:

   type(x) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use parentheses with type() [OK]

Hint: Use parentheses with functions like type() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using square brackets instead of parentheses
• Omitting parentheses
• Using non-existent functions like check_type()

3. What will be the output of this code?

value = 3.14
print(type(value))

medium

A. <class 'float'>

B. <class 'int'>

C. <class 'str'>

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the data type of value

   The variable value is assigned 3.14, which is a decimal number, so its type is float.

2. Step 2: Understand what print(type(value)) outputs

   The type() function returns <class 'float'> for a float value, which is printed.

3. Final Answer:

   <class 'float'> -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   3.14 is float type [OK]

Hint: Decimals are float type in Python [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing float with int
• Expecting string output
• Thinking it causes an error

4. Find the error in this code snippet:

my_var = 'hello'
if type(my_var) == str:
print('It is a string')

medium

A. Missing colon after if statement

B. Indentation error in print statement

C. Variable name is invalid

D. Incorrect use of type() function

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the if statement syntax

   The if statement has a colon and uses type() correctly, so no error there.

2. Step 2: Check indentation of the print statement

   In Python, the code inside if must be indented. Here, print is not indented, causing an indentation error.

3. Final Answer:

   Indentation error in print statement -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Indent inside if blocks [OK]

Hint: Indent code inside if statements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to indent after if
• Misusing type() comparison
• Missing colon after if

5. You want to write a function that returns True if the input is an integer or a float, and False otherwise. Which code correctly uses type() to do this?

hard

A. def check_num(x):
return type(x) == int and float

B. def check_num(x):
return type(x) == int or float

C. def check_num(x):
return type(x) == 'int' or 'float'

D. def check_num(x):
return type(x) in [int, float]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   The function should return True if x is either int or float.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option's correctness

   def check_num(x): return type(x) == int or float uses or float incorrectly, always returning truthy. def check_num(x): return type(x) in [int, float] uses in to check membership in a list of types, which is concise and correct. def check_num(x): return type(x) == 'int' or 'float' compares type to strings, which is wrong. def check_num(x): return type(x) == int and float uses and incorrectly, only detecting ints.

3. Final Answer:

   def check_num(x): return type(x) in [int, float] -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use in to check multiple types [OK]

Hint: Use 'type(x) in [int, float]' for multiple types [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Comparing type to string names
• Using 'and' instead of 'or' or 'in'
• Using incomplete logic like '== int or float'