Python isinstance() function

The isinstance() function in Python checks if the object (first argument) is a subclass of the second argument.

Syntax of isinstance()

isinstance(object, classinfo)

Returns True or False

Example 1 - Check for integers with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance(1992, int))
>> True

Example 2 - Check for floats with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance(2.0, float))
>> True

Example 3 - Check for complex numbers with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance(2 + 3j, complex))
>> True

Example 4 - Check for lists with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance([1, 2, 3], list))
>> True

Example 4 - Check for dictionary with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance({"name":"Pylenin"}, dict))
>> True

Example 5 - Check for tuples with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance((1, 2, 3), tuple))
>> True

Example 6 - Check for sets with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance({1, 2, 3}, set))
>> True

Example 7 - Check for strings with isinstance()

Code/Output

print(isinstance("Pylenin", str))
>> True

Example 7 - Check for User defined Class with isinstance()

Code/Output

class Pylenin:
    
    def __init__(self):
        self.name = "Pylenin"

myself = Pylenin()
print(isinstance(myself, Pylenin))
>> True

Example 9 - Python isinstance with multiple types

If you are unsure, you can also check your object with multiple class types. To do this, you need to mention all types in a tuple and pass it as the classinfo argument of isinstance().

Code/Output

print(isinstance("Pylenin", (str, int)))
>> True

# When the object doesn't belong
# to any class in the tuple
print(isinstance("Pylenin", (list, int)))
>>> False

How to check if multiple variables are a single type in Python?

You can use all() function along with isinstance() to check if multiple variables belong to the same type.

Code

x = "Pylenin"
y = 10
z = 3.5

if not all(isinstance(i, int) for i in list((x, y, z))):
    print("All variables are not integer")
else:
    print("All variables are integer")

Output

All variables are not integer