What are type hints in Python 3.10 and how can I use them in my library?

What are type hints in Python 3.10 and how can I use them in my library?

Type hints in Python 3.10 allow you to specify the expected data types of function arguments and return values. This enhances code readability and helps with static type checking.

Can you give me an example of how to implement type hints in a function?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

def add_numbers(a: int, b: int) -> int:
    return a + b

This function specifies that both a and b should be integers, and it returns an integer.

Are there any benefits to using type hints in my library?

Yes, type hints improve code clarity, help with debugging, and enable better integration with IDEs and tools that perform static analysis.

What if I want to use complex types like lists or dictionaries?

You can use the List and Dict types from the typing module. For example:

from typing import List, Dict

def process_data(data: List[Dict[str, int]]) -> None:
    pass

Is there a way to enforce type hints at runtime?

While type hints are not enforced at runtime, you can use libraries like pydantic or enforce to validate types during execution.