What is the difference between duck typing and type checking?

What is the difference between duck typing and type checking?

Duck typing is a concept in programming where the type or class of an object is determined by its behavior (methods and properties) rather than its explicit type. Type checking, on the other hand, involves verifying the type of a variable at compile time or runtime.

Can you give me an example of duck typing?

Sure! In Python, if you have a function that expects an object to have a 'quack' method, it doesn't matter what the actual type of the object is, as long as it implements that method. This is duck typing: "If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck."

What about type checking? How does it work?

Type checking can be static or dynamic. In static type checking, the type of a variable is known at compile time, like in Java. In dynamic type checking, the type is checked at runtime, like in JavaScript. This ensures that operations on variables are type-safe.

Which approach is better for programming?

It depends on the context! Duck typing offers flexibility and ease of use, while type checking provides safety and can catch errors early. The best choice often depends on the specific requirements of the project.