Using the result of type() in a boolean statement?

[dpapathanasiou]

If I define a dictionary where one or more of the values is also a
dictionary, e.g.:

my_dict={"a":"s tring", "b":"string ", "c":{"x":"0","y ":"1"},
"d":"string "}

How can I use the output of type() so I can do one thing if the value
is a string, and another if the value is a dictionary?

i.e., I'd like to define a loop like this, but I'm not sure of the
syntax:

for key, value in my_dict.items() :
if type{value) is <type 'dict'>:
# do the dictionary logic
elif type(value) is <type 'str'>:
# do the string logic
# etc

[Terry Reedy]

Re: Using the result of type() in a boolean statement?

dpapathanasiou wrote:

If I define a dictionary where one or more of the values is also a
dictionary, e.g.:
>
my_dict={"a":"s tring", "b":"string ", "c":{"x":"0","y ":"1"},
"d":"string "}
>
How can I use the output of type() so I can do one thing if the value
is a string, and another if the value is a dictionary?
>
i.e., I'd like to define a loop like this, but I'm not sure of the
syntax:
>
for key, value in my_dict.items() :
if type{value) is <type 'dict'>:

if type(v) is dict:

# do the dictionary logic
elif type(value) is <type 'str'>:

.... is str

# do the string logic

For built-in types without a built-in name, either import the types
module or just make one yourself with type().

>>func = type(lambda:1)
>>func

<class 'function'>

>>bif = type(abs)
>>bif

<class 'builtin_functi on_or_method'>

For userclass instances, use the userclass.

Terry Jan Reedy

[Scott David Daniels]

Re: Using the result of type() in a boolean statement?

dpapathanasiou wrote:

... I'd like to define a loop like this, ...
for key, value in my_dict.items() :
if type{value) is <type 'dict'>:
# do the dictionary logic
elif type(value) is <type 'str'>:
# do the string logic
# etc

You're searching for "isinstance " (or possibly issubclass)
for key, value in my_dict.items() :
if isinstance(valu e, dict):
# do the dictionary logic
elif isinstance(valu e, str): # use basestring for str & unicode
# do the string logic

Or, if you _must_ use type:
if issubclass(type (value), dict):
# do the dictionary logic
elif issubclass(type (value), str):
# do the string logic


--Scott David Daniels
Scott.Daniels@A cm.Org