python, how to tell what type of obj was returned

Question

How can i find out if the obj returned by a func is a int or something else (like a sqlite cursor)

Answer 1

Use isinstance(item, type) -- for instance:

if isinstance(foo, int):
    pass # handle this case

However, explicit type checking is not considered a good practice in the Python world -- it means that much of the power of duck typing is lost: Something which walks and quacks like a duck should be allowed to be a duck, even if it isn't! :)

Answer 2

Use the built-in "type" function, e.g. type(10) -> .