Test if a variable is a list or tuple

Question

In python, what\'s the best way to test if a variable contains a list or a tuple? (ie. a collection)

Is isinstance() as evil as suggested here? http://w

Answer 1

Python uses "Duck typing", i.e. if a variable kwaks like a duck, it must be a duck. In your case, you probably want it to be iterable, or you want to access the item at a certain index. You should just do this: i.e. use the object in for var: or var[idx] inside a try block, and if you get an exception it wasn't a duck...