Type Objects¶
- typePyTypeObject¶
- Part of theLimited API (as an opaque struct).
The C structure of the objects used to describe built-in types.
- PyTypeObjectPyType_Type¶
- Part of theStable ABI.
This is the type object for type objects; it is the same object as
type
in the Python layer.
- intPyType_Check(PyObject*o)¶
Return non-zero if the objecto is a type object, including instances oftypes derived from the standard type object. Return 0 in all other cases.This function always succeeds.
- intPyType_CheckExact(PyObject*o)¶
Return non-zero if the objecto is a type object, but not a subtype ofthe standard type object. Return 0 in all other cases. This functionalways succeeds.
- unsignedintPyType_ClearCache()¶
- Part of theStable ABI.
Clear the internal lookup cache. Return the current version tag.
- unsignedlongPyType_GetFlags(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI.
Return the
tp_flags
member oftype. This function is primarilymeant for use withPy_LIMITED_API
; the individual flag bits areguaranteed to be stable across Python releases, but access totp_flags
itself is not part of thelimited API.Added in version 3.2.
Changed in version 3.4:The return type is now
unsignedlong
rather thanlong
.
- PyObject*PyType_GetDict(PyTypeObject*type)¶
Return the type object’s internal namespace, which is otherwise onlyexposed via a read-only proxy (
cls.__dict__
).This is areplacement for accessingtp_dict
directly.The returned dictionary must be treated as read-only.This function is meant for specific embedding and language-binding cases,where direct access to the dict is necessary and indirect access(e.g. via the proxy or
PyObject_GetAttr()
) isn’t adequate.Extension modules should continue to use
tp_dict
,directly or indirectly, when setting up their own types.Added in version 3.12.
- voidPyType_Modified(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI.
Invalidate the internal lookup cache for the type and all of itssubtypes. This function must be called after any manualmodification of the attributes or base classes of the type.
- intPyType_AddWatcher(PyType_WatchCallbackcallback)¶
Registercallback as a type watcher. Return a non-negative integer IDwhich must be passed to future calls to
PyType_Watch()
. In case oferror (e.g. no more watcher IDs available), return-1
and set anexception.In free-threaded builds,
PyType_AddWatcher()
is not thread-safe,so it must be called at start up (before spawning the first thread).Added in version 3.12.
- intPyType_ClearWatcher(intwatcher_id)¶
Clear watcher identified bywatcher_id (previously returned from
PyType_AddWatcher()
). Return0
on success,-1
on error (e.g.ifwatcher_id was never registered.)An extension should never call
PyType_ClearWatcher
with awatcher_idthat was not returned to it by a previous call toPyType_AddWatcher()
.Added in version 3.12.
- intPyType_Watch(intwatcher_id,PyObject*type)¶
Marktype as watched. The callback grantedwatcher_id by
PyType_AddWatcher()
will be called wheneverPyType_Modified()
reports a change totype. (The callback may becalled only once for a series of consecutive modifications totype, if_PyType_Lookup()
is not called ontype between the modifications;this is an implementation detail and subject to change.)An extension should never call
PyType_Watch
with awatcher_id that wasnot returned to it by a previous call toPyType_AddWatcher()
.Added in version 3.12.
- typedefint(*PyType_WatchCallback)(PyObject*type)¶
Type of a type-watcher callback function.
The callback must not modifytype or cause
PyType_Modified()
to becalled ontype or any type in its MRO; violating this rule could causeinfinite recursion.Added in version 3.12.
- intPyType_HasFeature(PyTypeObject*o,intfeature)¶
Return non-zero if the type objecto sets the featurefeature.Type features are denoted by single bit flags.
- intPyType_IS_GC(PyTypeObject*o)¶
Return true if the type object includes support for the cycle detector; thistests the type flag
Py_TPFLAGS_HAVE_GC
.
- intPyType_IsSubtype(PyTypeObject*a,PyTypeObject*b)¶
- Part of theStable ABI.
Return true ifa is a subtype ofb.
This function only checks for actual subtypes, which means that
__subclasscheck__()
is not called onb. CallPyObject_IsSubclass()
to do the same check thatissubclass()
would do.
- PyObject*PyType_GenericAlloc(PyTypeObject*type,Py_ssize_tnitems)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI.
Generic handler for the
tp_alloc
slot of a type object. UsePython’s default memory allocation mechanism to allocate a new instance andinitialize all its contents toNULL
.
- PyObject*PyType_GenericNew(PyTypeObject*type,PyObject*args,PyObject*kwds)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI.
Generic handler for the
tp_new
slot of a type object. Create anew instance using the type’stp_alloc
slot.
- intPyType_Ready(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI.
Finalize a type object. This should be called on all type objects to finishtheir initialization. This function is responsible for adding inherited slotsfrom a type’s base class. Return
0
on success, or return-1
and sets anexception on error.Note
If some of the base classes implements the GC protocol and the providedtype does not include the
Py_TPFLAGS_HAVE_GC
in its flags, thenthe GC protocol will be automatically implemented from its parents. Onthe contrary, if the type being created does includePy_TPFLAGS_HAVE_GC
in its flags then itmust implement theGC protocol itself by at least implementing thetp_traverse
handle.
- PyObject*PyType_GetName(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI since version 3.11.
Return the type’s name. Equivalent to getting the type’s
__name__
attribute.Added in version 3.11.
- PyObject*PyType_GetQualName(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI since version 3.11.
Return the type’s qualified name. Equivalent to getting thetype’s
__qualname__
attribute.Added in version 3.11.
- PyObject*PyType_GetFullyQualifiedName(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.13.
Return the type’s fully qualified name. Equivalent to
f"{type.__module__}.{type.__qualname__}"
, ortype.__qualname__
iftype.__module__
is not a string or is equal to"builtins"
.Added in version 3.13.
- PyObject*PyType_GetModuleName(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.13.
Return the type’s module name. Equivalent to getting the
type.__module__
attribute.Added in version 3.13.
- void*PyType_GetSlot(PyTypeObject*type,intslot)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.4.
Return the function pointer stored in the given slot. If theresult is
NULL
, this indicates that either the slot isNULL
,or that the function was called with invalid parameters.Callers will typically cast the result pointer into the appropriatefunction type.See
PyType_Slot.slot
for possible values of theslot argument.Added in version 3.4.
Changed in version 3.10:
PyType_GetSlot()
can now accept all types.Previously, it was limited toheap types.
- PyObject*PyType_GetModule(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.10.
Return the module object associated with the given type when the type wascreated using
PyType_FromModuleAndSpec()
.If no module is associated with the given type, sets
TypeError
and returnsNULL
.This function is usually used to get the module in which a method is defined.Note that in such a method,
PyType_GetModule(Py_TYPE(self))
may not return the intended result.Py_TYPE(self)
may be asubclass of the intended class, and subclassesare not necessarily defined in the same module as their superclass.SeePyCMethod
to get the class that defines the method.SeePyType_GetModuleByDef()
for cases whenPyCMethod
cannotbe used.Added in version 3.9.
- void*PyType_GetModuleState(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.10.
Return the state of the module object associated with the given type.This is a shortcut for calling
PyModule_GetState()
on the resultofPyType_GetModule()
.If no module is associated with the given type, sets
TypeError
and returnsNULL
.If thetype has an associated module but its state is
NULL
,returnsNULL
without setting an exception.Added in version 3.9.
- PyObject*PyType_GetModuleByDef(PyTypeObject*type,structPyModuleDef*def)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.13.
Find the first superclass whose module was created fromthe given
PyModuleDef
def, and return that module.If no module is found, raises a
TypeError
and returnsNULL
.This function is intended to be used together with
PyModule_GetState()
to get module state from slot methods (such astp_init
ornb_add
)and other places where a method’s defining class cannot be passed using thePyCMethod
calling convention.Added in version 3.11.
- intPyUnstable_Type_AssignVersionTag(PyTypeObject*type)¶
- This isUnstable API. It may change without warning in minor releases.
Attempt to assign a version tag to the given type.
Returns 1 if the type already had a valid version tag or a new one wasassigned, or 0 if a new tag could not be assigned.
Added in version 3.12.
Creating Heap-Allocated Types¶
The following functions and structs are used to createheap types.
- PyObject*PyType_FromMetaclass(PyTypeObject*metaclass,PyObject*module,PyType_Spec*spec,PyObject*bases)¶
- Part of theStable ABI since version 3.12.
Create and return aheap type from thespec(see
Py_TPFLAGS_HEAPTYPE
).The metaclassmetaclass is used to construct the resulting type object.Whenmetaclass is
NULL
, the metaclass is derived frombases(orPy_tp_base[s] slots ifbases isNULL
, see below).Metaclasses that override
tp_new
are notsupported, except iftp_new
isNULL
.(For backwards compatibility, otherPyType_From*
functions allowsuch metaclasses. They ignoretp_new
, which may result in incompleteinitialization. This is deprecated and in Python 3.14+ such metaclasses willnot be supported.)Thebases argument can be used to specify base classes; it can eitherbe only one class or a tuple of classes.Ifbases is
NULL
, thePy_tp_bases slot is used instead.If that also isNULL
, thePy_tp_base slot is used instead.If that also isNULL
, the new type derives fromobject
.Themodule argument can be used to record the module in which the newclass is defined. It must be a module object or
NULL
.If notNULL
, the module is associated with the new type and can later beretrieved withPyType_GetModule()
.The associated module is not inherited by subclasses; it must be specifiedfor each class individually.This function calls
PyType_Ready()
on the new type.Note that this function doesnot fully match the behavior ofcalling
type()
or using theclass
statement.With user-provided base types or metaclasses, prefercallingtype
(or the metaclass)overPyType_From*
functions.Specifically:__new__()
is not called on the new class(and it must be set totype.__new__
).__init__()
is not called on the new class.__init_subclass__()
is not called on any bases.__set_name__()
is not called on new descriptors.
Added in version 3.12.
- PyObject*PyType_FromModuleAndSpec(PyObject*module,PyType_Spec*spec,PyObject*bases)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI since version 3.10.
Equivalent to
PyType_FromMetaclass(NULL,module,spec,bases)
.Added in version 3.9.
Changed in version 3.10:The function now accepts a single class as thebases argument and
NULL
as thetp_doc
slot.Changed in version 3.12:The function now finds and uses a metaclass corresponding to the providedbase classes. Previously, only
type
instances were returned.The
tp_new
of the metaclass isignored.which may result in incomplete initialization.Creating classes whose metaclass overridestp_new
is deprecated and in Python 3.14+ itwill be no longer allowed.
- PyObject*PyType_FromSpecWithBases(PyType_Spec*spec,PyObject*bases)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI since version 3.3.
Equivalent to
PyType_FromMetaclass(NULL,NULL,spec,bases)
.Added in version 3.3.
Changed in version 3.12:The function now finds and uses a metaclass corresponding to the providedbase classes. Previously, only
type
instances were returned.The
tp_new
of the metaclass isignored.which may result in incomplete initialization.Creating classes whose metaclass overridestp_new
is deprecated and in Python 3.14+ itwill be no longer allowed.
- PyObject*PyType_FromSpec(PyType_Spec*spec)¶
- Return value: New reference. Part of theStable ABI.
Equivalent to
PyType_FromMetaclass(NULL,NULL,spec,NULL)
.Changed in version 3.12:The function now finds and uses a metaclass corresponding to thebase classes provided inPy_tp_base[s] slots.Previously, only
type
instances were returned.The
tp_new
of the metaclass isignored.which may result in incomplete initialization.Creating classes whose metaclass overridestp_new
is deprecated and in Python 3.14+ itwill be no longer allowed.
- typePyType_Spec¶
- Part of theStable ABI (including all members).
Structure defining a type’s behavior.
- constchar*name¶
Name of the type, used to set
PyTypeObject.tp_name
.
- intbasicsize¶
If positive, specifies the size of the instance in bytes.It is used to set
PyTypeObject.tp_basicsize
.If zero, specifies that
tp_basicsize
should be inherited.If negative, the absolute value specifies how much space instances of theclass needin addition to the superclass.Use
PyObject_GetTypeData()
to get a pointer to subclass-specificmemory reserved this way.For negativebasicsize
, Python will insert padding whenneeded to meettp_basicsize
’s alignmentrequirements.Changed in version 3.12:Previously, this field could not be negative.
- intitemsize¶
Size of one element of a variable-size type, in bytes.Used to set
PyTypeObject.tp_itemsize
.Seetp_itemsize
documentation for caveats.If zero,
tp_itemsize
is inherited.Extending arbitrary variable-sized classes is dangerous,since some types use a fixed offset for variable-sized memory,which can then overlap fixed-sized memory used by a subclass.To help prevent mistakes, inheritingitemsize
is only possiblein the following situations:The base is not variable-sized (its
tp_itemsize
).The requested
PyType_Spec.basicsize
is positive,suggesting that the memory layout of the base class is known.The requested
PyType_Spec.basicsize
is zero,suggesting that the subclass does not access the instance’s memorydirectly.With the
Py_TPFLAGS_ITEMS_AT_END
flag.
- unsignedintflags¶
Type flags, used to set
PyTypeObject.tp_flags
.If the
Py_TPFLAGS_HEAPTYPE
flag is not set,PyType_FromSpecWithBases()
sets it automatically.
- PyType_Slot*slots¶
Array of
PyType_Slot
structures.Terminated by the special slot value{0,NULL}
.Each slot ID should be specified at most once.
- constchar*name¶
- typePyType_Slot¶
- Part of theStable ABI (including all members).
Structure defining optional functionality of a type, containing a slot IDand a value pointer.
- intslot¶
A slot ID.
Slot IDs are named like the field names of the structures
PyTypeObject
,PyNumberMethods
,PySequenceMethods
,PyMappingMethods
andPyAsyncMethods
with an addedPy_
prefix.For example, use:Py_tp_dealloc
to setPyTypeObject.tp_dealloc
Py_nb_add
to setPyNumberMethods.nb_add
Py_sq_length
to setPySequenceMethods.sq_length
The following “offset” fields cannot be set using
PyType_Slot
:tp_weaklistoffset
(usePy_TPFLAGS_MANAGED_WEAKREF
instead if possible)tp_dictoffset
(usePy_TPFLAGS_MANAGED_DICT
instead if possible)tp_vectorcall_offset
(use"__vectorcalloffset__"
inPyMemberDef)
If it is not possible to switch to a
MANAGED
flag (for example,for vectorcall or to support Python older than 3.12), specify theoffset inPy_tp_members
.SeePyMemberDef documentationfor details.The following fields cannot be set at all when creating a heap type:
tp_vectorcall
(usetp_new
and/ortp_init
)Internal fields:
tp_dict
,tp_mro
,tp_cache
,tp_subclasses
, andtp_weaklist
.
Setting
Py_tp_bases
orPy_tp_base
may beproblematic on some platforms.To avoid issues, use thebases argument ofPyType_FromSpecWithBases()
instead.Changed in version 3.9:Slots in
PyBufferProcs
may be set in the unlimited API.Changed in version 3.11:
bf_getbuffer
andbf_releasebuffer
are now availableunder thelimited API.
- void*pfunc¶
The desired value of the slot. In most cases, this is a pointerto a function.
Slots other than
Py_tp_doc
may not beNULL
.
- intslot¶