Python Data Types – The Building Blocks of Python Values (2025 Guide)

What Are Data Types in Python?

A data type defines the kind of value a variable holds and what operations can be performed on it.

Python has built-in data types, and every value in Python is an object with a type.

Main Categories of Python Data Types

Python’s data types fall into the following categories:

1️⃣ Text Type

• str → String (textual data)

name = "Alice"

2️⃣ Numeric Types

• int → Integer (whole numbers)
• float → Floating-point numbers (decimals)
• complex → Complex numbers (a + bj)

age = 25
price = 19.99
z = 5 + 3j

3️⃣ Sequence Types

• list → Ordered, mutable sequence
• tuple → Ordered, immutable sequence
• range → Sequence of numbers, often used in loops

fruits = ["apple", "banana"]
coordinates = (10, 20)
r = range(5)

4️⃣ Mapping Type

• dict → Key-value pairs

user = {"name": "John", "age": 30}

5️⃣ Set Types

• set → Unordered collection of unique elements
• frozenset → Immutable set

numbers = {1, 2, 3}
frozen = frozenset([1, 2, 3])

6️⃣ Boolean Type

• bool → Logical values: True or False

is_active = True

7️⃣ Binary Types

• bytes, bytearray, memoryview
  Used to store and manipulate binary data.

data = b"hello"

How to Check a Variable’s Type

Use the type() function:

print(type(10))       # <class 'int'>
print(type("Hi"))     # <class 'str'>
print(type([1, 2, 3])) # <class 'list'>

Summary – Python Data Types Overview

FAQs – Python Data Types

What are data types in Python?

Data types define the kind of value a variable holds (such as number, text, list, etc.) and determine what operations you can perform on it.

How many basic data types are there in Python?

Python has several built-in data types grouped into categories:

• Text: str
• Numeric: int, float, complex
• Sequence: list, tuple, range
• Mapping: dict
• Set: set, frozenset
• Boolean: bool
• Binary: bytes, bytearray, memoryview

How do I check the data type of a variable?

Use the built-in type() function:

x = "Hello"
print(type(x))  # <class 'str'>

What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

• A list is mutable (you can change its contents).
• A tuple is immutable (you cannot modify it after creation).

What is a dictionary in Python?

A dictionary (dict) is a collection of key-value pairs. Example:

person = {"name": "Alice", "age": 30}

Is Python strongly typed?

Yes, Python is strongly typed. Even though it’s dynamically typed, it does not automatically convert between incompatible types (e.g., you can’t add int and str without casting).