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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
523 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
524 | Name | Meaning |
525 +========================+==============================================+
526 | *POSITIONAL_ONLY* | Value must be supplied as a positional |
527 | | argument. |
528 | | |
529 | | Python has no explicit syntax for defining |
530 | | positional-only parameters, but many built-in|
531 | | and extension module functions (especially |
532 | | those that accept only one or two parameters)|
533 | | accept them. |
534 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
535 | *POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD*| Value may be supplied as either a keyword or |
536 | | positional argument (this is the standard |
537 | | binding behaviour for functions implemented |
538 | | in Python.) |
539 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
540 | *VAR_POSITIONAL* | A tuple of positional arguments that aren't |
541 | | bound to any other parameter. This |
542 | | corresponds to a ``*args`` parameter in a |
543 | | Python function definition. |
544 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
545 | *KEYWORD_ONLY* | Value must be supplied as a keyword argument.|
546 | | Keyword only parameters are those which |
547 | | appear after a ``*`` or ``*args`` entry in a |
548 | | Python function definition. |
549 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
550 | *VAR_KEYWORD* | A dict of keyword arguments that aren't bound|
551 | | to any other parameter. This corresponds to a|
552 | | ``**kwargs`` parameter in a Python function |
553 | | definition. |
554 +------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
555
Andrew Svetloveed18082012-08-13 18:23:54 +0300556 Example: print all keyword-only arguments without default values::
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300557
558 >>> def foo(a, b, *, c, d=10):
559 ... pass
560
561 >>> sig = signature(foo)
562 >>> for param in sig.parameters.values():
563 ... if (param.kind == param.KEYWORD_ONLY and
564 ... param.default is param.empty):
565 ... print('Parameter:', param)
566 Parameter: c
567
Ezio Melotti8429b672012-09-14 06:35:09 +0300568 .. method:: Parameter.replace(*[, name][, kind][, default][, annotation])
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300569
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200570 Create a new Parameter instance based on the instance replaced was invoked
571 on. To override a :class:`Parameter` attribute, pass the corresponding
572 argument. To remove a default value or/and an annotation from a
573 Parameter, pass :attr:`Parameter.empty`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300574
575 ::
576
577 >>> from inspect import Parameter
578 >>> param = Parameter('foo', Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY, default=42)
579 >>> str(param)
580 'foo=42'
581
582 >>> str(param.replace()) # Will create a shallow copy of 'param'
583 'foo=42'
584
585 >>> str(param.replace(default=Parameter.empty, annotation='spam'))
586 "foo:'spam'"
587
588
589.. class:: BoundArguments
590
591 Result of a :meth:`Signature.bind` or :meth:`Signature.bind_partial` call.
592 Holds the mapping of arguments to the function's parameters.
593
594 .. attribute:: BoundArguments.arguments
595
596 An ordered, mutable mapping (:class:`collections.OrderedDict`) of
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200597 parameters' names to arguments' values. Contains only explicitly bound
598 arguments. Changes in :attr:`arguments` will reflect in :attr:`args` and
599 :attr:`kwargs`.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300600
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200601 Should be used in conjunction with :attr:`Signature.parameters` for any
602 argument processing purposes.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300603
604 .. note::
605
606 Arguments for which :meth:`Signature.bind` or
607 :meth:`Signature.bind_partial` relied on a default value are skipped.
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200608 However, if needed, it is easy to include them.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300609
610 ::
611
612 >>> def foo(a, b=10):
613 ... pass
614
615 >>> sig = signature(foo)
616 >>> ba = sig.bind(5)
617
618 >>> ba.args, ba.kwargs
619 ((5,), {})
620
621 >>> for param in sig.parameters.values():
622 ... if param.name not in ba.arguments:
623 ... ba.arguments[param.name] = param.default
624
625 >>> ba.args, ba.kwargs
626 ((5, 10), {})
627
628
629 .. attribute:: BoundArguments.args
630
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200631 A tuple of positional arguments values. Dynamically computed from the
632 :attr:`arguments` attribute.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300633
634 .. attribute:: BoundArguments.kwargs
635
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200636 A dict of keyword arguments values. Dynamically computed from the
637 :attr:`arguments` attribute.
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300638
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200639 The :attr:`args` and :attr:`kwargs` properties can be used to invoke
640 functions::
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300641
642 def test(a, *, b):
643 ...
644
645 sig = signature(test)
646 ba = sig.bind(10, b=20)
647 test(*ba.args, **ba.kwargs)
648
649
Georg Brandle4717722012-08-14 09:45:28 +0200650.. seealso::
651
652 :pep:`362` - Function Signature Object.
653 The detailed specification, implementation details and examples.
654
655
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000656.. _inspect-classes-functions:
657
658Classes and functions
659---------------------
660
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000661.. function:: getclasstree(classes, unique=False)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000662
663 Arrange the given list of classes into a hierarchy of nested lists. Where a
664 nested list appears, it contains classes derived from the class whose entry
665 immediately precedes the list. Each entry is a 2-tuple containing a class and a
666 tuple of its base classes. If the *unique* argument is true, exactly one entry
667 appears in the returned structure for each class in the given list. Otherwise,
668 classes using multiple inheritance and their descendants will appear multiple
669 times.
670
671
672.. function:: getargspec(func)
673
Georg Brandl82402752010-01-09 09:48:46 +0000674 Get the names and default values of a Python function's arguments. A
Georg Brandlb30f3302011-01-06 09:23:56 +0000675 :term:`named tuple` ``ArgSpec(args, varargs, keywords, defaults)`` is
676 returned. *args* is a list of the argument names. *varargs* and *keywords*
677 are the names of the ``*`` and ``**`` arguments or ``None``. *defaults* is a
Larry Hastingsbf84bba2012-09-21 09:40:41 -0700678 tuple of default argument values or ``None`` if there are no default
679 arguments; if this tuple has *n* elements, they correspond to the last
680 *n* elements listed in *args*.
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000681
682 .. deprecated:: 3.0
683 Use :func:`getfullargspec` instead, which provides information about
Benjamin Peterson3e8e9cc2008-11-12 21:26:46 +0000684 keyword-only arguments and annotations.
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000685
686
687.. function:: getfullargspec(func)
688
Georg Brandl82402752010-01-09 09:48:46 +0000689 Get the names and default values of a Python function's arguments. A
690 :term:`named tuple` is returned:
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000691
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000692 ``FullArgSpec(args, varargs, varkw, defaults, kwonlyargs, kwonlydefaults,
693 annotations)``
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000694
695 *args* is a list of the argument names. *varargs* and *varkw* are the names
Larry Hastingsbf84bba2012-09-21 09:40:41 -0700696 of the ``*`` and ``**`` arguments or ``None``. *defaults* is an *n*-tuple
697 of the default values of the last *n* arguments, or ``None`` if there are no
698 default arguments. *kwonlyargs* is a list of
Georg Brandl138bcb52007-09-12 19:04:21 +0000699 keyword-only argument names. *kwonlydefaults* is a dictionary mapping names
700 from kwonlyargs to defaults. *annotations* is a dictionary mapping argument
701 names to annotations.
702
703 The first four items in the tuple correspond to :func:`getargspec`.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000704
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300705 .. note::
706 Consider using the new :ref:`Signature Object <inspect-signature-object>`
707 interface, which provides a better way of introspecting functions.
708
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000709
710.. function:: getargvalues(frame)
711
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000712 Get information about arguments passed into a particular frame. A
713 :term:`named tuple` ``ArgInfo(args, varargs, keywords, locals)`` is
Georg Brandlb30f3302011-01-06 09:23:56 +0000714 returned. *args* is a list of the argument names. *varargs* and *keywords*
715 are the names of the ``*`` and ``**`` arguments or ``None``. *locals* is the
Georg Brandlc1c4bf82010-10-15 16:07:41 +0000716 locals dictionary of the given frame.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000717
718
Michael Foord3af125a2012-04-21 18:22:28 +0100719.. function:: formatargspec(args[, varargs, varkw, defaults, kwonlyargs, kwonlydefaults, annotations, formatarg, formatvarargs, formatvarkw, formatvalue, formatreturns, formatannotations])
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000720
Michael Foord3af125a2012-04-21 18:22:28 +0100721 Format a pretty argument spec from the values returned by
722 :func:`getargspec` or :func:`getfullargspec`.
723
724 The first seven arguments are (``args``, ``varargs``, ``varkw``,
725 ``defaults``, ``kwonlyargs``, ``kwonlydefaults``, ``annotations``). The
726 other five arguments are the corresponding optional formatting functions
727 that are called to turn names and values into strings. The last argument
728 is an optional function to format the sequence of arguments.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000729
730
Georg Brandlc1c4bf82010-10-15 16:07:41 +0000731.. function:: formatargvalues(args[, varargs, varkw, locals, formatarg, formatvarargs, formatvarkw, formatvalue])
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000732
733 Format a pretty argument spec from the four values returned by
734 :func:`getargvalues`. The format\* arguments are the corresponding optional
735 formatting functions that are called to turn names and values into strings.
736
737
738.. function:: getmro(cls)
739
740 Return a tuple of class cls's base classes, including cls, in method resolution
741 order. No class appears more than once in this tuple. Note that the method
742 resolution order depends on cls's type. Unless a very peculiar user-defined
743 metatype is in use, cls will be the first element of the tuple.
744
745
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000746.. function:: getcallargs(func[, *args][, **kwds])
747
748 Bind the *args* and *kwds* to the argument names of the Python function or
749 method *func*, as if it was called with them. For bound methods, bind also the
750 first argument (typically named ``self``) to the associated instance. A dict
751 is returned, mapping the argument names (including the names of the ``*`` and
752 ``**`` arguments, if any) to their values from *args* and *kwds*. In case of
753 invoking *func* incorrectly, i.e. whenever ``func(*args, **kwds)`` would raise
754 an exception because of incompatible signature, an exception of the same type
755 and the same or similar message is raised. For example::
756
757 >>> from inspect import getcallargs
758 >>> def f(a, b=1, *pos, **named):
759 ... pass
Andrew Svetlove939f382012-08-09 13:25:32 +0300760 >>> getcallargs(f, 1, 2, 3) == {'a': 1, 'named': {}, 'b': 2, 'pos': (3,)}
761 True
762 >>> getcallargs(f, a=2, x=4) == {'a': 2, 'named': {'x': 4}, 'b': 1, 'pos': ()}
763 True
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000764 >>> getcallargs(f)
765 Traceback (most recent call last):
766 ...
Andrew Svetlove939f382012-08-09 13:25:32 +0300767 TypeError: f() missing 1 required positional argument: 'a'
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000768
769 .. versionadded:: 3.2
770
Andrew Svetlov4e48bf92012-08-13 17:10:28 +0300771 .. note::
772 Consider using the new :meth:`Signature.bind` instead.
773
Benjamin Peterson25cd7eb2010-03-30 18:42:32 +0000774
Nick Coghlan2f92e542012-06-23 19:39:55 +1000775.. function:: getclosurevars(func)
776
777 Get the mapping of external name references in a Python function or
778 method *func* to their current values. A
779 :term:`named tuple` ``ClosureVars(nonlocals, globals, builtins, unbound)``
780 is returned. *nonlocals* maps referenced names to lexical closure
781 variables, *globals* to the function's module globals and *builtins* to
782 the builtins visible from the function body. *unbound* is the set of names
783 referenced in the function that could not be resolved at all given the
784 current module globals and builtins.
785
786 :exc:`TypeError` is raised if *func* is not a Python function or method.
787
788 .. versionadded:: 3.3
789
790
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000791.. _inspect-stack:
792
793The interpreter stack
794---------------------
795
796When the following functions return "frame records," each record is a tuple of
797six items: the frame object, the filename, the line number of the current line,
798the function name, a list of lines of context from the source code, and the
799index of the current line within that list.
800
Georg Brandle720c0a2009-04-27 16:20:50 +0000801.. note::
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000802
803 Keeping references to frame objects, as found in the first element of the frame
804 records these functions return, can cause your program to create reference
805 cycles. Once a reference cycle has been created, the lifespan of all objects
806 which can be accessed from the objects which form the cycle can become much
807 longer even if Python's optional cycle detector is enabled. If such cycles must
808 be created, it is important to ensure they are explicitly broken to avoid the
809 delayed destruction of objects and increased memory consumption which occurs.
810
811 Though the cycle detector will catch these, destruction of the frames (and local
812 variables) can be made deterministic by removing the cycle in a
813 :keyword:`finally` clause. This is also important if the cycle detector was
814 disabled when Python was compiled or using :func:`gc.disable`. For example::
815
816 def handle_stackframe_without_leak():
817 frame = inspect.currentframe()
818 try:
819 # do something with the frame
820 finally:
821 del frame
822
823The optional *context* argument supported by most of these functions specifies
824the number of lines of context to return, which are centered around the current
825line.
826
827
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000828.. function:: getframeinfo(frame, context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000829
Georg Brandl48310cd2009-01-03 21:18:54 +0000830 Get information about a frame or traceback object. A :term:`named tuple`
Christian Heimes25bb7832008-01-11 16:17:00 +0000831 ``Traceback(filename, lineno, function, code_context, index)`` is returned.
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000832
833
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000834.. function:: getouterframes(frame, context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000835
836 Get a list of frame records for a frame and all outer frames. These frames
837 represent the calls that lead to the creation of *frame*. The first entry in the
838 returned list represents *frame*; the last entry represents the outermost call
839 on *frame*'s stack.
840
841
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000842.. function:: getinnerframes(traceback, context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000843
844 Get a list of frame records for a traceback's frame and all inner frames. These
845 frames represent calls made as a consequence of *frame*. The first entry in the
846 list represents *traceback*; the last entry represents where the exception was
847 raised.
848
849
850.. function:: currentframe()
851
852 Return the frame object for the caller's stack frame.
853
Georg Brandl495f7b52009-10-27 15:28:25 +0000854 .. impl-detail::
855
856 This function relies on Python stack frame support in the interpreter,
857 which isn't guaranteed to exist in all implementations of Python. If
858 running in an implementation without Python stack frame support this
859 function returns ``None``.
Benjamin Peterson4ac9ce42009-10-04 14:49:41 +0000860
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000861
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000862.. function:: stack(context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000863
864 Return a list of frame records for the caller's stack. The first entry in the
865 returned list represents the caller; the last entry represents the outermost
866 call on the stack.
867
868
Georg Brandl3dd33882009-06-01 17:35:27 +0000869.. function:: trace(context=1)
Georg Brandl116aa622007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000870
871 Return a list of frame records for the stack between the current frame and the
872 frame in which an exception currently being handled was raised in. The first
873 entry in the list represents the caller; the last entry represents where the
874 exception was raised.
875
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000876
877Fetching attributes statically
878------------------------------
879
880Both :func:`getattr` and :func:`hasattr` can trigger code execution when
881fetching or checking for the existence of attributes. Descriptors, like
882properties, will be invoked and :meth:`__getattr__` and :meth:`__getattribute__`
883may be called.
884
885For cases where you want passive introspection, like documentation tools, this
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200886can be inconvenient. :func:`getattr_static` has the same signature as :func:`getattr`
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000887but avoids executing code when it fetches attributes.
888
889.. function:: getattr_static(obj, attr, default=None)
890
891 Retrieve attributes without triggering dynamic lookup via the
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200892 descriptor protocol, :meth:`__getattr__` or :meth:`__getattribute__`.
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000893
894 Note: this function may not be able to retrieve all attributes
895 that getattr can fetch (like dynamically created attributes)
896 and may find attributes that getattr can't (like descriptors
897 that raise AttributeError). It can also return descriptors objects
898 instead of instance members.
899
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200900 If the instance :attr:`__dict__` is shadowed by another member (for example a
Michael Foorddcebe0f2011-03-15 19:20:44 -0400901 property) then this function will be unable to find instance members.
Nick Coghlan2dad5ca2010-11-21 03:55:53 +0000902
Michael Foorddcebe0f2011-03-15 19:20:44 -0400903 .. versionadded:: 3.2
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000904
Éric Araujo941afed2011-09-01 02:47:34 +0200905:func:`getattr_static` does not resolve descriptors, for example slot descriptors or
Michael Foorde5162652010-11-20 16:40:44 +0000906getset descriptors on objects implemented in C. The descriptor object
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000907is returned instead of the underlying attribute.
908
909You can handle these with code like the following. Note that
910for arbitrary getset descriptors invoking these may trigger
911code execution::
912
913 # example code for resolving the builtin descriptor types
Éric Araujo28053fb2010-11-22 03:09:19 +0000914 class _foo:
Michael Foord95fc51d2010-11-20 15:07:30 +0000915 __slots__ = ['foo']
916
917 slot_descriptor = type(_foo.foo)
918 getset_descriptor = type(type(open(__file__)).name)
919 wrapper_descriptor = type(str.__dict__['__add__'])
920 descriptor_types = (slot_descriptor, getset_descriptor, wrapper_descriptor)
921
922 result = getattr_static(some_object, 'foo')
923 if type(result) in descriptor_types:
924 try:
925 result = result.__get__()
926 except AttributeError:
927 # descriptors can raise AttributeError to
928 # indicate there is no underlying value
929 # in which case the descriptor itself will
930 # have to do
931 pass
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000932
Nick Coghlan2dad5ca2010-11-21 03:55:53 +0000933
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000934Current State of a Generator
935----------------------------
936
937When implementing coroutine schedulers and for other advanced uses of
938generators, it is useful to determine whether a generator is currently
939executing, is waiting to start or resume or execution, or has already
Raymond Hettinger48f3bd32010-12-16 00:30:53 +0000940terminated. :func:`getgeneratorstate` allows the current state of a
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000941generator to be determined easily.
942
943.. function:: getgeneratorstate(generator)
944
Raymond Hettinger48f3bd32010-12-16 00:30:53 +0000945 Get current state of a generator-iterator.
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000946
Raymond Hettinger48f3bd32010-12-16 00:30:53 +0000947 Possible states are:
Raymond Hettingera275c982011-01-20 04:03:19 +0000948 * GEN_CREATED: Waiting to start execution.
949 * GEN_RUNNING: Currently being executed by the interpreter.
950 * GEN_SUSPENDED: Currently suspended at a yield expression.
951 * GEN_CLOSED: Execution has completed.
Nick Coghlane0f04652010-11-21 03:44:04 +0000952
Nick Coghlan2dad5ca2010-11-21 03:55:53 +0000953 .. versionadded:: 3.2
Nick Coghlan04e2e3f2012-06-23 19:52:05 +1000954
955The current internal state of the generator can also be queried. This is
956mostly useful for testing purposes, to ensure that internal state is being
957updated as expected:
958
959.. function:: getgeneratorlocals(generator)
960
961 Get the mapping of live local variables in *generator* to their current
962 values. A dictionary is returned that maps from variable names to values.
963 This is the equivalent of calling :func:`locals` in the body of the
964 generator, and all the same caveats apply.
965
966 If *generator* is a :term:`generator` with no currently associated frame,
967 then an empty dictionary is returned. :exc:`TypeError` is raised if
968 *generator* is not a Python generator object.
969
970 .. impl-detail::
971
972 This function relies on the generator exposing a Python stack frame
973 for introspection, which isn't guaranteed to be the case in all
974 implementations of Python. In such cases, this function will always
975 return an empty dictionary.
976
977 .. versionadded:: 3.3