Difference between type and class

[Nikolaus Rath]

Maric Michaud <maric at aristote.info> writes:
>> > Can someone explain to me the difference between a type and a class?
>>
>> If your confusion is of a more general nature I suggest reading the
>> introduction of `Design Patterns' (ISBN-10: 0201633612), under
>> `Specifying Object Interfaces'.
>>
>> In short: A type denotes a certain interface, i.e. a set of signatures,
>> whereas a class tells us how an object is implemented (like a
>> blueprint). A class can have many types if it implements all their
>> interfaces, and different classes can have the same type if they share a
>> common interface. The following example should clarify matters:
>>
>
> Of course, this is what a type means in certain literature about OO
> (java-ish), but this absolutely not what type means in Python. Types
> are a family of object with a certain status, and they're type is
> "type", conventionnaly named a metatype in standard OO.
[...]

Hmm. Now you have said a lot about Python objects and their type, but
you still haven't said what a type actually is (in Python) and in what
way it is different from a class. Or did I miss something?


Best,

   -Nikolaus

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