Python Type Hints: Documentation Your Linter Can Read
Type hints are labels for variables and function returns (`name: str`) that Python ignores at runtime. They enable static analysis tools and IDEs to catch errors before you run code.
Think of type hints as documentation your tools can read. They add `: type` annotations to variables and `-> type` to function returns, clarifying expected data. This allows static checkers like mypy to find bugs without running code and enables better IDE autocompletion. They are crucial in large codebases for maintainability. The biggest footgun is assuming Python enforces these hints at runtime—it doesn't. They are for static analysis only.
Read the original → peps.python.org
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