How to test the data type of a variable

[DL Neil]

On 24/04/20 1:24 PM, Deac-33 Lancaster wrote:
> I'm aware that you can find the type of a variable with
>     type(var)
> 
> But are there Boolean operators in Python3.8 to test the data type, e.g.
>    is_floate(var)
>    is_string(var)
> etc. ?

There is also a 'pythonic' answer (what is the 'Python way'?) and that 
is to proceed on the basis of "duck typing" and 'presumption'. The 
latter known as EAFP ("It's Easier To Ask Forgiveness Than To Get 
Permission"), eg:

 >>> n = 2
 >>> d = 'two'

my training/first inclination has always been to check before use - in 
this case, that both the numerator and denominator are numeric and that 
the latter is non-zero - seeking to avoid:

 >>> n / d
Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for /: 'int' and 'str'


Crash!

Conversely, here is the pythonic EAFP approach:

 >>> try:
...     n / d
... except TypeError:
...     print( "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that." )
...
I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
 >>>


and if you want to go all-in and try to break the laws of mathematics:

 >>> n = 2
 >>> d = 0

 >>> try:
...     n / d
... except TypeError:
...     print( "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that." )
... except ZeroDivisionError:
...     print( "Officer, it wasn't me - honest!" )
...
Officer, it wasn't me - honest!
 >>>


or just-for-fun:

 >>> try:
...     n / d
... except ( ZeroDivisionError, TypeError ):
...     print( "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that." )
...
I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
-- 
Regards =dn