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5.2 More About Types in Python

This section goes into more detail describing what types and declarations are recognized by Python. The area where Python differs most radically from previous Common Lisp compilers is in its support for types:

• Precise type checking helps to find bugs at run time.
• Compile-time type checking helps to find bugs at compile time.
• Type inference minimizes the need for generic operations, and also increases the efficiency of run time type checking and the effectiveness of compile time type checking.
• Support for detailed types provides a wealth of opportunity for operation-specific type inference and optimization.

• More Types Meaningful
• Canonicalization
• Member Types
• Union Types
• The Empty Type
• Function Types
• The Values Declaration
• Structure Types
• The Freeze-Type Declaration
• Type Restrictions
• Type Style Recommendations