Open In App

Duck Typing in Python

Improve
Improve
Like Article
Like
Save
Share
Report

Duck Typing is a type system used in dynamic languages. For example, Python, Perl, Ruby, PHP, Javascript, etc. where the type or the class of an object is less important than the method it defines. Using Duck Typing, we do not check types at all. Instead, we check for the presence of a given method or attribute.

The name Duck Typing comes from the phrase:

“If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck”

Example:




# Python program to demonstrate
# duck typing
  
class Specialstring:
    def __len__(self):
        return 21
  
# Driver's code
if __name__ == "__main__":
  
    string = Specialstring()
    print(len(string))


Output:

21

In this case, we call method len() gives the return value from __len__ method. Here __len__ method defines the property of the class Specialstring

The object’s type itself is not significant in this we do not declare the argument in method prototypes. This means that compilers can not do type-checking. Therefore, what really matters is if the object has particular attributes at run time. Duck typing is hence implemented by dynamic languages. But now some of the static languages like Haskell also supports it. But, Java/C# doesn’t have this ability yet.

Example: Now, lets look demonstrates how an object be used in any other circumstances until it is not supported.




# Python program to demonstrate
# duck typing
  
  
class Bird:
    def fly(self):
        print("fly with wings")
  
class Airplane:
    def fly(self):
        print("fly with fuel")
  
class Fish:
    def swim(self):
        print("fish swim in sea")
  
# Attributes having same name are
# considered as duck typing
for obj in Bird(), Airplane(), Fish():
    obj.fly()


Output:

fly with wings
fly with fuel
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/854855e5570b9ce4a9e984209b6a1c21.py", line 20, in 
    obj.fly()
AttributeError: 'Fish' object has no attribute 'fly'

In this example, we can see a class supports some method we can modify it or give them new functionality. Duck-typing emphasis what the object can really do, rather than what the object is.



Last Updated : 31 Dec, 2019
Like Article
Save Article
Previous
Next
Share your thoughts in the comments
Similar Reads