How do type hints in Python affect performance?

How do type hints in Python affect performance?

Type hints in Python primarily serve as a way to indicate the expected data types of variables, function parameters, and return values. They do not directly affect runtime performance since Python is dynamically typed, but they can improve code readability and help with static analysis tools.

So, they don't slow down my code?

Correct! Type hints are not enforced at runtime, so they won't slow down your code execution. However, they can help developers catch errors early and improve maintainability.

Are there any tools that can utilize type hints for performance optimization?

Yes, tools like MyPy can analyze your code for type correctness, and using type hints can also help with optimizations in some static type checkers or IDEs that provide better suggestions based on type information.

Can you give an example of how to use type hints?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

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

In this function, a and b are expected to be integers, and the function returns an integer.