Query on type() in Python [duplicate]

Question

This question already has answers here:

Class vs. Type in Python (3 answers)

Closed 6 years ago.

When I run the following, I got the output as below:

x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(type(x))
y = "PYTHON"
print(type(y))

Output:

<class 'list'>
<class 'str'>

I have read that everything in Python is a object, yet I am seeing the output as class. I also read that object is a class. How can an object be a class? I am beginner in python and was unable to understand this. Can you please help me?

• Luis Henrique: what is the desired output?
• Luis Henrique: Does this answer your question? Class vs. Type in Python

Answer 1

An object is an instance of a class. type is identifying the class of which this object is an instance.

Answer 2

Welcome to stackoverflow.

What you are saying is correct. Both x and y are objects.

The function "type" basically tells you about what is the type of the object.

As x is a list it's of list type. And same goes for y.

Answer 3

The purpose of the type function is to give you the class of a given object, not the type of the instantiated object.

See the docs: https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#type.

• Scott Hunter: What is the difference?
• Sayse: That doesn't explain the difference between "the class of a given object" and "type of the instantiated object"
• Sayse: @AviKaminetzky - I understand your analogy in terms of difference between class and an instance, but that doesn't appear to be what your initial statement is comparing