What are some examples of union types in Python?

What are some examples of union types in Python?

In Python, union types allow a variable to hold values of different types. For example, you can use Union[int, str] to indicate that a variable can be either an integer or a string.

Can you show me a code example using union types?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from typing import Union

def process_value(value: Union[int, str]) -> None:
    if isinstance(value, int):
        print(f'Processing integer: {value}')
    else:
        print(f'Processing string: {value}')

process_value(10)  # Output: Processing integer: 10
process_value('Hello')  # Output: Processing string: Hello

What version of Python introduced union types?

Union types were introduced in Python 3.5 with the typing module. However, from Python 3.10 onwards, you can use the | operator for union types, like int | str.

Are there any limitations to using union types?

Yes, while union types are powerful, they can make type checking more complex. It's important to handle each type appropriately in your code to avoid runtime errors.