Python type hint for classes that support __getitem__

Question

I want to add type hints to a function that will accept any object with a __getitem__ method. For instance, in

def my_function(hasitems, locator         


        

Answer 1

If you're willing to install a not-quite-offical extension to typing, typing-extensions, you can use a Protocol, which should be an implementation of PEP-0544:

from typing_extensions import Protocol
from typing import Any

class GetItem(Protocol):
    def __getitem__(self: 'Getitem', key: Any) -> Any: pass

class BadGetItem:
    def __getitem__(self, a: int, b: int) -> Any: pass

def do_thing(arg: GetItem):
    pass

do_thing(dict())  # OK
do_thing(BadGetItem())  # Fails with explanation of correct signature
do_thing(1)  # Fails