What is the difference between type hints and type checking?

Can you explain the difference between type hints and type checking?

Sure! Type hints are annotations in your code that suggest what type a variable should be, while type checking is the process of verifying that the types of variables match the expected types during execution.

Are type hints mandatory in programming languages?

No, type hints are not mandatory. They are optional in languages like Python, but they can help improve code readability and assist with static analysis.

How does type checking work in dynamically typed languages?

In dynamically typed languages, type checking occurs at runtime. The interpreter checks the types of variables as the program executes, which can lead to runtime errors if types don't match.

Can you give an example of type hints in Python?

Certainly! In Python, you can use type hints like this: def add(a: int, b: int) -> int:. This indicates that both a and b should be integers and the function returns an integer.