Using ``Any`` and ``object``

When adding type hints, avoid using the``Any`` type when possible. Reserve

the use of``Any`` for when:

When adding type hints, avoid using the:ref:`Any` type when possible. Reserve

the use of:ref:`Any` for when:

* the correct type cannot be expressed in the current type system; and

* to avoid union returns (see above).

Note that``Any`` is not the correct type to use if you want to indicate

Note that:ref:`Any` is not the correct type to use if you want to indicate

that some function can accept literally anything: in those cases use

``object`` instead.

When using ``Any``, document the reason for using it in a comment. Ideally,

document what types could be used.

:class:`object` instead.

When using:ref:`Any`, document the reason for using it in a comment, unless the

reason is obvious. Ideally, document what types could be used. Obvious

reasons can include:

* Using:ref:`Any` as a type argument for a generic with invariant type variables

to say "any object of this type is allowed", e.g. ``Future[Any]``.

* Using ``dict[str, Any]`` or ``Mapping[str, Any]`` when the value types

depends on the keys. But consider using:ref:`TypedDict` or

``dict[str, Incomplete]`` (temporarily) when the keys of the dictionary are

fixed.

The ``Any`` Trick