determine “type of value” from a string in python

Question

I\'m trying to write a function in python, which will determine what type of value is in string; for example

if in string is 1 or 0 or True or False the value is BI

Answer 1

You could also use json.

import json
converted_val = json.loads('32.45')
type(converted_val)

Outputs

type <'float'>

EDIT

To answer your question, however:

re.match() returns partial matches, starting from the beginning of the string. Since you keep evaluating every pattern match the sequence for "2010-00-10" goes like this:

if patternTEXT.match(str_obj): #don't use 'string' as a variable name.

it matches, so odp is set to "text"

then, your script does:

if patternFLOAT.match(str_obj):

no match, odp still equals "text"

if patternINT.match(str_obj):

partial match odp is set to "INT"

Because match returns partial matches, multiple if statements are evaluated and the last one evaluated determines which string is returned in odp.

You can do one of several things:

1. rearrange the order of your if statements so that the last one to match is the correct one.

2. use if and elif for the rest of your if statements so that only the first statement to match is evaluated.

3. check to make sure the match object is matching the entire string:

   ...
   match = patternINT.match(str_obj)
   if match:
       if match.end() == match.endpos:
           #do stuff
   ...