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Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +00001:mod:`inspect` --- Inspect live objects
2=======================================
3
4.. module:: inspect
5 :synopsis: Extract information and source code from live objects.
6.. moduleauthor:: Ka-Ping Yee <ping@lfw.org>
7.. sectionauthor:: Ka-Ping Yee <ping@lfw.org>
8
Raymond Hettinger469271d2011-01-27 20:38:46 +00009**Source code:** :source:`Lib/inspect.py`
10
11--------------
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000012
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000013The :mod:`inspect` module provides several useful functions to help get
14information about live objects such as modules, classes, methods, functions,
15tracebacks, frame objects, and code objects. For example, it can help you
16examine the contents of a class, retrieve the source code of a method, extract
17and format the argument list for a function, or get all the information you need
18to display a detailed traceback.
19
20There are four main kinds of services provided by this module: type checking,
21getting source code, inspecting classes and functions, and examining the
22interpreter stack.
23
24
25.. _inspect-types:
26
27Types and members
28-----------------
29
30The :func:`getmembers` function retrieves the members of an object such as a
Christian Heimes78644762008-03-04 23:39:23 +000031class or module. The sixteen functions whose names begin with "is" are mainly
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +000032provided as convenient choices for the second argument to :func:`getmembers`.
33They also help you determine when you can expect to find the following special
34attributes:
35
Georg Brandl55ac8f02007-09-01 13:51:09 +000036+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
37| Type | Attribute | Description |
38+===========+=================+===========================+
39| module | __doc__ | documentation string |
40+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
41| | __file__ | filename (missing for |
42| | | built-in modules) |
43+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
44| class | __doc__ | documentation string |
45+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
46| | __module__ | name of module in which |
47| | | this class was defined |
48+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
49| method | __doc__ | documentation string |
50+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
51| | __name__ | name with which this |
52| | | method was defined |
53+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
Christian Heimesff737952007-11-27 10:40:20 +000054| | __func__ | function object |
Georg Brandl55ac8f02007-09-01 13:51:09 +000055| | | containing implementation |
56| | | of method |
57+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
Christian Heimesff737952007-11-27 10:40:20 +000058| | __self__ | instance to which this |
Georg Brandl55ac8f02007-09-01 13:51:09 +000059| | | method is bound, or |
60| | | ``None`` |
61+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
62| function | __doc__ | documentation string |
63+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
64| | __name__ | name with which this |
65| | | function was defined |
66+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
67| | __code__ | code object containing |
68| | | compiled function |
Georg Brandl9afde1c2007-11-01 20:32:30 +000069| | | :term:`bytecode` |
Georg Brandl55ac8f02007-09-01 13:51:09 +000070+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
71| | __defaults__ | tuple of any default |
72| | | values for arguments |
73+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
74| | __globals__ | global namespace in which |
75| | | this function was defined |
76+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
77| traceback | tb_frame | frame object at this |
78| | | level |
79+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
80| | tb_lasti | index of last attempted |
81| | | instruction in bytecode |
82+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
83| | tb_lineno | current line number in |
84| | | Python source code |
85+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
86| | tb_next | next inner traceback |
87| | | object (called by this |
88| | | level) |
89+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
90| frame | f_back | next outer frame object |
91| | | (this frame's caller) |
92+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
Georg Brandlc4a55fc2010-02-06 18:46:57 +000093| | f_builtins | builtins namespace seen |
Georg Brandl55ac8f02007-09-01 13:51:09 +000094| | | by this frame |
95+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
96| | f_code | code object being |
97| | | executed in this frame |
98+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
Georg Brandl55ac8f02007-09-01 13:51:09 +000099| | f_globals | global namespace seen by |
100| | | this frame |
101+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
102| | f_lasti | index of last attempted |
103| | | instruction in bytecode |
104+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
105| | f_lineno | current line number in |
106| | | Python source code |
107+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
108| | f_locals | local namespace seen by |
109| | | this frame |
110+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
111| | f_restricted | 0 or 1 if frame is in |
112| | | restricted execution mode |
113+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
114| | f_trace | tracing function for this |
115| | | frame, or ``None`` |
116+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
117| code | co_argcount | number of arguments (not |
118| | | including \* or \*\* |
119| | | args) |
120+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
121| | co_code | string of raw compiled |
122| | | bytecode |
123+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
124| | co_consts | tuple of constants used |
125| | | in the bytecode |
126+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
127| | co_filename | name of file in which |
128| | | this code object was |
129| | | created |
130+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
131| | co_firstlineno | number of first line in |
132| | | Python source code |
133+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
134| | co_flags | bitmap: 1=optimized ``|`` |
135| | | 2=newlocals ``|`` 4=\*arg |
136| | | ``|`` 8=\*\*arg |
137+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
138| | co_lnotab | encoded mapping of line |
139| | | numbers to bytecode |
140| | | indices |
141+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
142| | co_name | name with which this code |
143| | | object was defined |
144+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
145| | co_names | tuple of names of local |
146| | | variables |
147+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
148| | co_nlocals | number of local variables |
149+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
150| | co_stacksize | virtual machine stack |
151| | | space required |
152+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
153| | co_varnames | tuple of names of |
154| | | arguments and local |
155| | | variables |
156+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
157| builtin | __doc__ | documentation string |
158+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
159| | __name__ | original name of this |
160| | | function or method |
161+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
162| | __self__ | instance to which a |
163| | | method is bound, or |
164| | | ``None`` |
165+-----------+-----------------+---------------------------+
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000166
167
168.. function:: getmembers(object[, predicate])
169
170 Return all the members of an object in a list of (name, value) pairs sorted by
171 name. If the optional *predicate* argument is supplied, only members for which
172 the predicate returns a true value are included.
173
Christian Heimes7f044312008-01-06 17:05:40 +0000174 .. note::
175
176 :func:`getmembers` does not return metaclass attributes when the argument
177 is a class (this behavior is inherited from the :func:`dir` function).
178
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000179
180.. function:: getmoduleinfo(path)
181
Georg Brandlb30f3302011-01-06 09:23:56 +0000182 Returns a :term:`named tuple` ``ModuleInfo(name, suffix, mode, module_type)``
183 of values that describe how Python will interpret the file identified by
184 *path* if it is a module, or ``None`` if it would not be identified as a
185 module. In that tuple, *name* is the name of the module without the name of
186 any enclosing package, *suffix* is the trailing part of the file name (which
187 may not be a dot-delimited extension), *mode* is the :func:`open` mode that
188 would be used (``'r'`` or ``'rb'``), and *module_type* is an integer giving
189 the type of the module. *module_type* will have a value which can be
190 compared to the constants defined in the :mod:`imp` module; see the
191 documentation for that module for more information on module types.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000192
Brett Cannoncb66eb02012-05-11 12:58:42 -0400193 .. deprecated:: 3.3
194 You may check the file path's suffix against the supported suffixes
195 listed in :mod:`importlib.machinery` to infer the same information.
196
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000197
198.. function:: getmodulename(path)
199
200 Return the name of the module named by the file *path*, without including the
Nick Coghlan76e07702012-07-18 23:14:57 +1000201 names of enclosing packages. The file extension is checked against all of
202 the entries in :func:`importlib.machinery.all_suffixes`. If it matches,
203 the final path component is returned with the extension removed.
204 Otherwise, ``None`` is returned.
205
206 Note that this function *only* returns a meaningful name for actual
207 Python modules - paths that potentially refer to Python packages will
208 still return ``None``.
209
210 .. versionchanged:: 3.3
211 This function is now based directly on :mod:`importlib` rather than the
212 deprecated :func:`getmoduleinfo`.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000213
214
215.. function:: ismodule(object)
216
217 Return true if the object is a module.
218
219
220.. function:: isclass(object)
221
Georg Brandl39cadc32010-10-15 16:53:24 +0000222 Return true if the object is a class, whether built-in or created in Python
223 code.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000224
225
226.. function:: ismethod(object)
227
Georg Brandl39cadc32010-10-15 16:53:24 +0000228 Return true if the object is a bound method written in Python.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000229
230
231.. function:: isfunction(object)
232
Georg Brandl39cadc32010-10-15 16:53:24 +0000233 Return true if the object is a Python function, which includes functions
234 created by a :term:`lambda` expression.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000235
236
Christian Heimes7131fd92008-02-19 14:21:46 +0000237.. function:: isgeneratorfunction(object)
238
239 Return true if the object is a Python generator function.
240
241
242.. function:: isgenerator(object)
243
244 Return true if the object is a generator.
245
246
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000247.. function:: istraceback(object)
248
249 Return true if the object is a traceback.
250
251
252.. function:: isframe(object)
253
254 Return true if the object is a frame.
255
256
257.. function:: iscode(object)
258
259 Return true if the object is a code.
260
261
262.. function:: isbuiltin(object)
263
Georg Brandl39cadc32010-10-15 16:53:24 +0000264 Return true if the object is a built-in function or a bound built-in method.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000265
266
267.. function:: isroutine(object)
268
269 Return true if the object is a user-defined or built-in function or method.
270
Georg Brandl39cadc32010-10-15 16:53:24 +0000271
Christian Heimesbe5b30b2008-03-03 19:18:51 +0000272.. function:: isabstract(object)
273
274 Return true if the object is an abstract base class.
275
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000276
277.. function:: ismethoddescriptor(object)
278
Georg Brandl39cadc32010-10-15 16:53:24 +0000279 Return true if the object is a method descriptor, but not if
280 :func:`ismethod`, :func:`isclass`, :func:`isfunction` or :func:`isbuiltin`
281 are true.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000282
Georg Brandle6bcc912008-05-12 18:05:20 +0000283 This, for example, is true of ``int.__add__``. An object passing this test
284 has a :attr:`__get__` attribute but not a :attr:`__set__` attribute, but
285 beyond that the set of attributes varies. :attr:`__name__` is usually
286 sensible, and :attr:`__doc__` often is.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000287
Georg Brandl9afde1c2007-11-01 20:32:30 +0000288 Methods implemented via descriptors that also pass one of the other tests
289 return false from the :func:`ismethoddescriptor` test, simply because the
290 other tests promise more -- you can, e.g., count on having the
Christian Heimesff737952007-11-27 10:40:20 +0000291 :attr:`__func__` attribute (etc) when an object passes :func:`ismethod`.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000292
293
294.. function:: isdatadescriptor(object)
295
296 Return true if the object is a data descriptor.
297
Georg Brandl9afde1c2007-11-01 20:32:30 +0000298 Data descriptors have both a :attr:`__get__` and a :attr:`__set__` attribute.
299 Examples are properties (defined in Python), getsets, and members. The
300 latter two are defined in C and there are more specific tests available for
301 those types, which is robust across Python implementations. Typically, data
302 descriptors will also have :attr:`__name__` and :attr:`__doc__` attributes
303 (properties, getsets, and members have both of these attributes), but this is
304 not guaranteed.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000305
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000306
307.. function:: isgetsetdescriptor(object)
308
309 Return true if the object is a getset descriptor.
310
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +0000311 .. impl-detail::
312
313 getsets are attributes defined in extension modules via
Georg Brandl60203b42010-10-06 10:11:56 +0000314 :c:type:`PyGetSetDef` structures. For Python implementations without such
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +0000315 types, this method will always return ``False``.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000316
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000317
318.. function:: ismemberdescriptor(object)
319
320 Return true if the object is a member descriptor.
321
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +0000322 .. impl-detail::
323
324 Member descriptors are attributes defined in extension modules via
Georg Brandl60203b42010-10-06 10:11:56 +0000325 :c:type:`PyMemberDef` structures. For Python implementations without such
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +0000326 types, this method will always return ``False``.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000327
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000328
329.. _inspect-source:
330
331Retrieving source code
332----------------------
333
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000334.. function:: getdoc(object)
335
Georg Brandl0c77a822008-06-10 16:37:50 +0000336 Get the documentation string for an object, cleaned up with :func:`cleandoc`.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000337
338
339.. function:: getcomments(object)
340
341 Return in a single string any lines of comments immediately preceding the
342 object's source code (for a class, function, or method), or at the top of the
343 Python source file (if the object is a module).
344
345
346.. function:: getfile(object)
347
348 Return the name of the (text or binary) file in which an object was defined.
349 This will fail with a :exc:`TypeError` if the object is a built-in module,
350 class, or function.
351
352
353.. function:: getmodule(object)
354
355 Try to guess which module an object was defined in.
356
357
358.. function:: getsourcefile(object)
359
360 Return the name of the Python source file in which an object was defined. This
361 will fail with a :exc:`TypeError` if the object is a built-in module, class, or
362 function.
363
364
365.. function:: getsourcelines(object)
366
367 Return a list of source lines and starting line number for an object. The
368 argument may be a module, class, method, function, traceback, frame, or code
369 object. The source code is returned as a list of the lines corresponding to the
370 object and the line number indicates where in the original source file the first
Antoine Pitrou62ab10a02011-10-12 20:10:51 +0200371 line of code was found. An :exc:`OSError` is raised if the source code cannot
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000372 be retrieved.
373
Antoine Pitrou62ab10a02011-10-12 20:10:51 +0200374 .. versionchanged:: 3.3
375 :exc:`OSError` is raised instead of :exc:`IOError`, now an alias of the
376 former.
377
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000378
379.. function:: getsource(object)
380
381 Return the text of the source code for an object. The argument may be a module,
382 class, method, function, traceback, frame, or code object. The source code is
Antoine Pitrou62ab10a02011-10-12 20:10:51 +0200383 returned as a single string. An :exc:`OSError` is raised if the source code
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000384 cannot be retrieved.
385
Antoine Pitrou62ab10a02011-10-12 20:10:51 +0200386 .. versionchanged:: 3.3
387 :exc:`OSError` is raised instead of :exc:`IOError`, now an alias of the
388 former.
389
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000390
Georg Brandl0c77a822008-06-10 16:37:50 +0000391.. function:: cleandoc(doc)
392
393 Clean up indentation from docstrings that are indented to line up with blocks
394 of code. Any whitespace that can be uniformly removed from the second line
395 onwards is removed. Also, all tabs are expanded to spaces.
396
Georg Brandl0c77a822008-06-10 16:37:50 +0000397
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300398.. _inspect-signature-object:
399
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200400Introspecting callables with the Signature object
401-------------------------------------------------
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300402
403.. versionadded:: 3.3
404
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200405The Signature object represents the call signature of a callable object and its
406return annotation. To retrieve a Signature object, use the :func:`signature`
407function.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300408
409.. function:: signature(callable)
410
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200411 Return a :class:`Signature` object for the given ``callable``::
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300412
413 >>> from inspect import signature
414 >>> def foo(a, *, b:int, **kwargs):
415 ... pass
416
417 >>> sig = signature(foo)
418
419 >>> str(sig)
420 '(a, *, b:int, **kwargs)'
421
422 >>> str(sig.parameters['b'])
423 'b:int'
424
425 >>> sig.parameters['b'].annotation
426 <class 'int'>
427
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200428 Accepts a wide range of python callables, from plain functions and classes to
429 :func:`functools.partial` objects.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300430
431 .. note::
432
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200433 Some callables may not be introspectable in certain implementations of
434 Python. For example, in CPython, built-in functions defined in C provide
435 no metadata about their arguments.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300436
437
438.. class:: Signature
439
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200440 A Signature object represents the call signature of a function and its return
441 annotation. For each parameter accepted by the function it stores a
442 :class:`Parameter` object in its :attr:`parameters` collection.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300443
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200444 Signature objects are *immutable*. Use :meth:`Signature.replace` to make a
445 modified copy.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300446
447 .. attribute:: Signature.empty
448
449 A special class-level marker to specify absence of a return annotation.
450
451 .. attribute:: Signature.parameters
452
453 An ordered mapping of parameters' names to the corresponding
454 :class:`Parameter` objects.
455
456 .. attribute:: Signature.return_annotation
457
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200458 The "return" annotation for the callable. If the callable has no "return"
459 annotation, this attribute is set to :attr:`Signature.empty`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300460
461 .. method:: Signature.bind(*args, **kwargs)
462
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200463 Create a mapping from positional and keyword arguments to parameters.
464 Returns :class:`BoundArguments` if ``*args`` and ``**kwargs`` match the
465 signature, or raises a :exc:`TypeError`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300466
467 .. method:: Signature.bind_partial(*args, **kwargs)
468
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200469 Works the same way as :meth:`Signature.bind`, but allows the omission of
470 some required arguments (mimics :func:`functools.partial` behavior.)
471 Returns :class:`BoundArguments`, or raises a :exc:`TypeError` if the
472 passed arguments do not match the signature.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300473
Ezio Melotti8429b672012-09-14 06:35:09 +0300474 .. method:: Signature.replace(*[, parameters][, return_annotation])
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300475
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200476 Create a new Signature instance based on the instance replace was invoked
477 on. It is possible to pass different ``parameters`` and/or
478 ``return_annotation`` to override the corresponding properties of the base
479 signature. To remove return_annotation from the copied Signature, pass in
480 :attr:`Signature.empty`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300481
482 ::
483
484 >>> def test(a, b):
485 ... pass
486 >>> sig = signature(test)
487 >>> new_sig = sig.replace(return_annotation="new return anno")
488 >>> str(new_sig)
489 "(a, b) -> 'new return anno'"
490
491
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300492.. class:: Parameter
493
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200494 Parameter objects are *immutable*. Instead of modifying a Parameter object,
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300495 you can use :meth:`Parameter.replace` to create a modified copy.
496
497 .. attribute:: Parameter.empty
498
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200499 A special class-level marker to specify absence of default values and
500 annotations.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300501
502 .. attribute:: Parameter.name
503
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200504 The name of the parameter as a string. Must be a valid python identifier
505 name (with the exception of ``POSITIONAL_ONLY`` parameters, which can have
506 it set to ``None``).
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300507
508 .. attribute:: Parameter.default
509
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200510 The default value for the parameter. If the parameter has no default
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300511 value, this attribute is set to :attr:`Parameter.empty`.
512
513 .. attribute:: Parameter.annotation
514
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200515 The annotation for the parameter. If the parameter has no annotation,
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300516 this attribute is set to :attr:`Parameter.empty`.
517
518 .. attribute:: Parameter.kind
519
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200520 Describes how argument values are bound to the parameter. Possible values
521 (accessible via :class:`Parameter`, like ``Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY``):
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300522
Georg Brandl44ea77b2013-03-28 13:28:44 +0100523 .. tabularcolumns:: |l|L|
524
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300525 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
526 | Name | Meaning |
527 +========================+==============================================+
528 | *POSITIONAL_ONLY* | Value must be supplied as a positional |
529 | | argument. |
530 | | |
531 | | Python has no explicit syntax for defining |
532 | | positional-only parameters, but many built-in|
533 | | and extension module functions (especially |
534 | | those that accept only one or two parameters)|
535 | | accept them. |
536 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
537 | *POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD*| Value may be supplied as either a keyword or |
538 | | positional argument (this is the standard |
539 | | binding behaviour for functions implemented |
540 | | in Python.) |
541 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
542 | *VAR_POSITIONAL* | A tuple of positional arguments that aren't |
543 | | bound to any other parameter. This |
544 | | corresponds to a ``*args`` parameter in a |
545 | | Python function definition. |
546 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
547 | *KEYWORD_ONLY* | Value must be supplied as a keyword argument.|
548 | | Keyword only parameters are those which |
549 | | appear after a ``*`` or ``*args`` entry in a |
550 | | Python function definition. |
551 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
552 | *VAR_KEYWORD* | A dict of keyword arguments that aren't bound|
553 | | to any other parameter. This corresponds to a|
554 | | ``**kwargs`` parameter in a Python function |
555 | | definition. |
556 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
557
Andrew Svetloveed18082012-08-13 18:23:54 +0300558 Example: print all keyword-only arguments without default values::
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300559
560 >>> def foo(a, b, *, c, d=10):
561 ... pass
562
563 >>> sig = signature(foo)
564 >>> for param in sig.parameters.values():
565 ... if (param.kind == param.KEYWORD_ONLY and
566 ... param.default is param.empty):
567 ... print('Parameter:', param)
568 Parameter: c
569
Ezio Melotti8429b672012-09-14 06:35:09 +0300570 .. method:: Parameter.replace(*[, name][, kind][, default][, annotation])
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300571
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200572 Create a new Parameter instance based on the instance replaced was invoked
573 on. To override a :class:`Parameter` attribute, pass the corresponding
574 argument. To remove a default value or/and an annotation from a
575 Parameter, pass :attr:`Parameter.empty`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300576
577 ::
578
579 >>> from inspect import Parameter
580 >>> param = Parameter('foo', Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY, default=42)
581 >>> str(param)
582 'foo=42'
583
584 >>> str(param.replace()) # Will create a shallow copy of 'param'
585 'foo=42'
586
587 >>> str(param.replace(default=Parameter.empty, annotation='spam'))
588 "foo:'spam'"
589
590
591.. class:: BoundArguments
592
593 Result of a :meth:`Signature.bind` or :meth:`Signature.bind_partial` call.
594 Holds the mapping of arguments to the function's parameters.
595
596 .. attribute:: BoundArguments.arguments
597
598 An ordered, mutable mapping (:class:`collections.OrderedDict`) of
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200599 parameters' names to arguments' values. Contains only explicitly bound
600 arguments. Changes in :attr:`arguments` will reflect in :attr:`args` and
601 :attr:`kwargs`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300602
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200603 Should be used in conjunction with :attr:`Signature.parameters` for any
604 argument processing purposes.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300605
606 .. note::
607
608 Arguments for which :meth:`Signature.bind` or
609 :meth:`Signature.bind_partial` relied on a default value are skipped.
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200610 However, if needed, it is easy to include them.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300611
612 ::
613
614 >>> def foo(a, b=10):
615 ... pass
616
617 >>> sig = signature(foo)
618 >>> ba = sig.bind(5)
619
620 >>> ba.args, ba.kwargs
621 ((5,), {})
622
623 >>> for param in sig.parameters.values():
624 ... if param.name not in ba.arguments:
625 ... ba.arguments[param.name] = param.default
626
627 >>> ba.args, ba.kwargs
628 ((5, 10), {})
629
630
631 .. attribute:: BoundArguments.args
632
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200633 A tuple of positional arguments values. Dynamically computed from the
634 :attr:`arguments` attribute.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300635
636 .. attribute:: BoundArguments.kwargs
637
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200638 A dict of keyword arguments values. Dynamically computed from the
639 :attr:`arguments` attribute.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300640
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200641 The :attr:`args` and :attr:`kwargs` properties can be used to invoke
642 functions::
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300643
644 def test(a, *, b):
645 ...
646
647 sig = signature(test)
648 ba = sig.bind(10, b=20)
649 test(*ba.args, **ba.kwargs)
650
651
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200652.. seealso::
653
654 :pep:`362` - Function Signature Object.
655 The detailed specification, implementation details and examples.
656
657
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000658.. _inspect-classes-functions:
659
660Classes and functions
661---------------------
662
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000663.. function:: getclasstree(classes, unique=False)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000664
665 Arrange the given list of classes into a hierarchy of nested lists. Where a
666 nested list appears, it contains classes derived from the class whose entry
667 immediately precedes the list. Each entry is a 2-tuple containing a class and a
668 tuple of its base classes. If the *unique* argument is true, exactly one entry
669 appears in the returned structure for each class in the given list. Otherwise,
670 classes using multiple inheritance and their descendants will appear multiple
671 times.
672
673
674.. function:: getargspec(func)
675
Georg Brandl82402752010-01-09 09:48:46 +0000676 Get the names and default values of a Python function's arguments. A
Georg Brandlb30f3302011-01-06 09:23:56 +0000677 :term:`named tuple` ``ArgSpec(args, varargs, keywords, defaults)`` is
678 returned. *args* is a list of the argument names. *varargs* and *keywords*
679 are the names of the ``*`` and ``**`` arguments or ``None``. *defaults* is a
Larry Hastingsbf84bba2012-09-21 09:40:41 -0700680 tuple of default argument values or ``None`` if there are no default
681 arguments; if this tuple has *n* elements, they correspond to the last
682 *n* elements listed in *args*.
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000683
684 .. deprecated:: 3.0
685 Use :func:`getfullargspec` instead, which provides information about
Benjamin Peterson3e8e9cc2008-11-12 21:26:46 +0000686 keyword-only arguments and annotations.
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000687
688
689.. function:: getfullargspec(func)
690
Georg Brandl82402752010-01-09 09:48:46 +0000691 Get the names and default values of a Python function's arguments. A
692 :term:`named tuple` is returned:
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000693
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000694 ``FullArgSpec(args, varargs, varkw, defaults, kwonlyargs, kwonlydefaults,
695 annotations)``
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000696
697 *args* is a list of the argument names. *varargs* and *varkw* are the names
Larry Hastingsbf84bba2012-09-21 09:40:41 -0700698 of the ``*`` and ``**`` arguments or ``None``. *defaults* is an *n*-tuple
699 of the default values of the last *n* arguments, or ``None`` if there are no
700 default arguments. *kwonlyargs* is a list of
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000701 keyword-only argument names. *kwonlydefaults* is a dictionary mapping names
702 from kwonlyargs to defaults. *annotations* is a dictionary mapping argument
703 names to annotations.
704
705 The first four items in the tuple correspond to :func:`getargspec`.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000706
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300707 .. note::
708 Consider using the new :ref:`Signature Object <inspect-signature-object>`
709 interface, which provides a better way of introspecting functions.
710
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000711
712.. function:: getargvalues(frame)
713
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000714 Get information about arguments passed into a particular frame. A
715 :term:`named tuple` ``ArgInfo(args, varargs, keywords, locals)`` is
Georg Brandlb30f3302011-01-06 09:23:56 +0000716 returned. *args* is a list of the argument names. *varargs* and *keywords*
717 are the names of the ``*`` and ``**`` arguments or ``None``. *locals* is the
Georg Brandlc1c4bf82010-10-15 16:07:41 +0000718 locals dictionary of the given frame.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000719
720
Andrew Svetlov735d3172012-10-27 00:28:20 +0300721.. function:: formatargspec(args[, varargs, varkw, defaults, kwonlyargs, kwonlydefaults, annotations[, formatarg, formatvarargs, formatvarkw, formatvalue, formatreturns, formatannotations]])
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000722
Michael Foord3af125a2012-04-21 18:22:28 +0100723 Format a pretty argument spec from the values returned by
724 :func:`getargspec` or :func:`getfullargspec`.
725
726 The first seven arguments are (``args``, ``varargs``, ``varkw``,
727 ``defaults``, ``kwonlyargs``, ``kwonlydefaults``, ``annotations``). The
728 other five arguments are the corresponding optional formatting functions
729 that are called to turn names and values into strings. The last argument
Andrew Svetlov735d3172012-10-27 00:28:20 +0300730 is an optional function to format the sequence of arguments. For example::
731
732 >>> from inspect import formatargspec, getfullargspec
733 >>> def f(a: int, b: float):
734 ... pass
735 ...
736 >>> formatargspec(*getfullargspec(f))
737 '(a: int, b: float)'
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000738
739
Georg Brandlc1c4bf82010-10-15 16:07:41 +0000740.. function:: formatargvalues(args[, varargs, varkw, locals, formatarg, formatvarargs, formatvarkw, formatvalue])
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000741
742 Format a pretty argument spec from the four values returned by
743 :func:`getargvalues`. The format\* arguments are the corresponding optional
744 formatting functions that are called to turn names and values into strings.
745
746
747.. function:: getmro(cls)
748
749 Return a tuple of class cls's base classes, including cls, in method resolution
750 order. No class appears more than once in this tuple. Note that the method
751 resolution order depends on cls's type. Unless a very peculiar user-defined
752 metatype is in use, cls will be the first element of the tuple.
753
754
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000755.. function:: getcallargs(func[, *args][, **kwds])
756
757 Bind the *args* and *kwds* to the argument names of the Python function or
758 method *func*, as if it was called with them. For bound methods, bind also the
759 first argument (typically named ``self``) to the associated instance. A dict
760 is returned, mapping the argument names (including the names of the ``*`` and
761 ``**`` arguments, if any) to their values from *args* and *kwds*. In case of
762 invoking *func* incorrectly, i.e. whenever ``func(*args, **kwds)`` would raise
763 an exception because of incompatible signature, an exception of the same type
764 and the same or similar message is raised. For example::
765
766 >>> from inspect import getcallargs
767 >>> def f(a, b=1, *pos, **named):
768 ... pass
Andrew Svetlove939f382012-08-09 13:25:32 +0300769 >>> getcallargs(f, 1, 2, 3) == {'a': 1, 'named': {}, 'b': 2, 'pos': (3,)}
770 True
771 >>> getcallargs(f, a=2, x=4) == {'a': 2, 'named': {'x': 4}, 'b': 1, 'pos': ()}
772 True
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000773 >>> getcallargs(f)
774 Traceback (most recent call last):
775 ...
Andrew Svetlove939f382012-08-09 13:25:32 +0300776 TypeError: f() missing 1 required positional argument: 'a'
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000777
778 .. versionadded:: 3.2
779
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300780 .. note::
781 Consider using the new :meth:`Signature.bind` instead.
782
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000783
Nick Coghlan2f92e542012-06-23 19:39:55 +1000784.. function:: getclosurevars(func)
785
786 Get the mapping of external name references in a Python function or
787 method *func* to their current values. A
788 :term:`named tuple` ``ClosureVars(nonlocals, globals, builtins, unbound)``
789 is returned. *nonlocals* maps referenced names to lexical closure
790 variables, *globals* to the function's module globals and *builtins* to
791 the builtins visible from the function body. *unbound* is the set of names
792 referenced in the function that could not be resolved at all given the
793 current module globals and builtins.
794
795 :exc:`TypeError` is raised if *func* is not a Python function or method.
796
797 .. versionadded:: 3.3
798
799
Nick Coghlane8c45d62013-07-28 20:00:01 +1000800.. function:: unwrap(func, *, stop=None)
801
802 Get the object wrapped by *func*. It follows the chain of :attr:`__wrapped__`
803 attributes returning the last object in the chain.
804
805 *stop* is an optional callback accepting an object in the wrapper chain
806 as its sole argument that allows the unwrapping to be terminated early if
807 the callback returns a true value. If the callback never returns a true
808 value, the last object in the chain is returned as usual. For example,
809 :func:`signature` uses this to stop unwrapping if any object in the
810 chain has a ``__signature__`` attribute defined.
811
812 :exc:`ValueError` is raised if a cycle is encountered.
813
814 .. versionadded:: 3.4
815
816
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000817.. _inspect-stack:
818
819The interpreter stack
820---------------------
821
822When the following functions return "frame records," each record is a tuple of
823six items: the frame object, the filename, the line number of the current line,
824the function name, a list of lines of context from the source code, and the
825index of the current line within that list.
826
Georg Brandle720c0a2009-04-27 16:20:50 +0000827.. note::
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000828
829 Keeping references to frame objects, as found in the first element of the frame
830 records these functions return, can cause your program to create reference
831 cycles. Once a reference cycle has been created, the lifespan of all objects
832 which can be accessed from the objects which form the cycle can become much
833 longer even if Python's optional cycle detector is enabled. If such cycles must
834 be created, it is important to ensure they are explicitly broken to avoid the
835 delayed destruction of objects and increased memory consumption which occurs.
836
837 Though the cycle detector will catch these, destruction of the frames (and local
838 variables) can be made deterministic by removing the cycle in a
839 :keyword:`finally` clause. This is also important if the cycle detector was
840 disabled when Python was compiled or using :func:`gc.disable`. For example::
841
842 def handle_stackframe_without_leak():
843 frame = inspect.currentframe()
844 try:
845 # do something with the frame
846 finally:
847 del frame
848
Antoine Pitrou58720d62013-08-05 23:26:40 +0200849 If you want to keep the frame around (for example to print a traceback
850 later), you can also break reference cycles by using the
851 :meth:`frame.clear` method.
852
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000853The optional *context* argument supported by most of these functions specifies
854the number of lines of context to return, which are centered around the current
855line.
856
857
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000858.. function:: getframeinfo(frame, context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000859
Georg Brandl48310cd2009-01-03 21:18:54 +0000860 Get information about a frame or traceback object. A :term:`named tuple`
Christian Heimes25bb7832008-01-11 16:17:00 +0000861 ``Traceback(filename, lineno, function, code_context, index)`` is returned.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000862
863
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000864.. function:: getouterframes(frame, context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000865
866 Get a list of frame records for a frame and all outer frames. These frames
867 represent the calls that lead to the creation of *frame*. The first entry in the
868 returned list represents *frame*; the last entry represents the outermost call
869 on *frame*'s stack.
870
871
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000872.. function:: getinnerframes(traceback, context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000873
874 Get a list of frame records for a traceback's frame and all inner frames. These
875 frames represent calls made as a consequence of *frame*. The first entry in the
876 list represents *traceback*; the last entry represents where the exception was
877 raised.
878
879
880.. function:: currentframe()
881
882 Return the frame object for the caller's stack frame.
883
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +0000884 .. impl-detail::
885
886 This function relies on Python stack frame support in the interpreter,
887 which isn't guaranteed to exist in all implementations of Python. If
888 running in an implementation without Python stack frame support this
889 function returns ``None``.
Benjamin Peterson4ac9ce42009-10-04 14:49:41 +0000890
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000891
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000892.. function:: stack(context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000893
894 Return a list of frame records for the caller's stack. The first entry in the
895 returned list represents the caller; the last entry represents the outermost
896 call on the stack.
897
898
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000899.. function:: trace(context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000900
901 Return a list of frame records for the stack between the current frame and the
902 frame in which an exception currently being handled was raised in. The first
903 entry in the list represents the caller; the last entry represents where the
904 exception was raised.
905
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000906
907Fetching attributes statically
908------------------------------
909
910Both :func:`getattr` and :func:`hasattr` can trigger code execution when
911fetching or checking for the existence of attributes. Descriptors, like
912properties, will be invoked and :meth:`__getattr__` and :meth:`__getattribute__`
913may be called.
914
915For cases where you want passive introspection, like documentation tools, this
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200916can be inconvenient. :func:`getattr_static` has the same signature as :func:`getattr`
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000917but avoids executing code when it fetches attributes.
918
919.. function:: getattr_static(obj, attr, default=None)
920
921 Retrieve attributes without triggering dynamic lookup via the
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200922 descriptor protocol, :meth:`__getattr__` or :meth:`__getattribute__`.
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000923
924 Note: this function may not be able to retrieve all attributes
925 that getattr can fetch (like dynamically created attributes)
926 and may find attributes that getattr can't (like descriptors
927 that raise AttributeError). It can also return descriptors objects
928 instead of instance members.
929
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200930 If the instance :attr:`__dict__` is shadowed by another member (for example a
Michael Foorddcebe0f2011-03-15 19:20:44 -0400931 property) then this function will be unable to find instance members.
Nick Coghlan2dad5ca2010-11-21 03:55:53 +0000932
Michael Foorddcebe0f2011-03-15 19:20:44 -0400933 .. versionadded:: 3.2
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000934
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200935:func:`getattr_static` does not resolve descriptors, for example slot descriptors or
Michael Foorde5162652010-11-20 16:40:44 +0000936getset descriptors on objects implemented in C. The descriptor object
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000937is returned instead of the underlying attribute.
938
939You can handle these with code like the following. Note that
940for arbitrary getset descriptors invoking these may trigger
941code execution::
942
943 # example code for resolving the builtin descriptor types
Éric Araujo28053fb2010-11-22 03:09:19 +0000944 class _foo:
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000945 __slots__ = ['foo']
946
947 slot_descriptor = type(_foo.foo)
948 getset_descriptor = type(type(open(__file__)).name)
949 wrapper_descriptor = type(str.__dict__['__add__'])
950 descriptor_types = (slot_descriptor, getset_descriptor, wrapper_descriptor)
951
952 result = getattr_static(some_object, 'foo')
953 if type(result) in descriptor_types:
954 try:
955 result = result.__get__()
956 except AttributeError:
957 # descriptors can raise AttributeError to
958 # indicate there is no underlying value
959 # in which case the descriptor itself will
960 # have to do
961 pass
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000962
Nick Coghlan2dad5ca2010-11-21 03:55:53 +0000963
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000964Current State of a Generator
965----------------------------
966
967When implementing coroutine schedulers and for other advanced uses of
968generators, it is useful to determine whether a generator is currently
969executing, is waiting to start or resume or execution, or has already
Raymond Hettinger48f3bd32010-12-16 00:30:53 +0000970terminated. :func:`getgeneratorstate` allows the current state of a
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000971generator to be determined easily.
972
973.. function:: getgeneratorstate(generator)
974
Raymond Hettinger48f3bd32010-12-16 00:30:53 +0000975 Get current state of a generator-iterator.
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000976
Raymond Hettinger48f3bd32010-12-16 00:30:53 +0000977 Possible states are:
Raymond Hettingera275c982011-01-20 04:03:19 +0000978 * GEN_CREATED: Waiting to start execution.
979 * GEN_RUNNING: Currently being executed by the interpreter.
980 * GEN_SUSPENDED: Currently suspended at a yield expression.
981 * GEN_CLOSED: Execution has completed.
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000982
Nick Coghlan2dad5ca2010-11-21 03:55:53 +0000983 .. versionadded:: 3.2
Nick Coghlan04e2e3f2012-06-23 19:52:05 +1000984
985The current internal state of the generator can also be queried. This is
986mostly useful for testing purposes, to ensure that internal state is being
987updated as expected:
988
989.. function:: getgeneratorlocals(generator)
990
991 Get the mapping of live local variables in *generator* to their current
992 values. A dictionary is returned that maps from variable names to values.
993 This is the equivalent of calling :func:`locals` in the body of the
994 generator, and all the same caveats apply.
995
996 If *generator* is a :term:`generator` with no currently associated frame,
997 then an empty dictionary is returned. :exc:`TypeError` is raised if
998 *generator* is not a Python generator object.
999
1000 .. impl-detail::
1001
1002 This function relies on the generator exposing a Python stack frame
1003 for introspection, which isn't guaranteed to be the case in all
1004 implementations of Python. In such cases, this function will always
1005 return an empty dictionary.
1006
1007 .. versionadded:: 3.3