python / python/mypy

(🐞) `|` operator with `_SpecialForm` determined to be `types.UnionType` it's actually `typing.Union`

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bug topic-pep-604
Dominant language
Python
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Description

from typing import Any

print(reveal_type(int | Any))  #  types.UnionType
> python test.py
typing.Union[int, typing.Any]

This causes issues with isinstance, despite the fact that isinstance can take a typing.Union.

from typing import Any

isinstance(1, str | Any)  # no error

Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the two Python snippets showing the mismatch between reveal_type(int | Any) and the runtime typing.Union result. Trace how mypy handles | when _SpecialForm is involved, then verify that the inferred type agrees with the runtime behavior and that the isinstance example remains error-free.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
32/100

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