python / python/mypy

Mypy gives confusing/misleading error message

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bug
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Python
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Description

Bug Report

Mypy reports error: Name "..." is not defined [name-defined] when using an instance attribute that was annotated.

To Reproduce

from inspect import Parameter


class ListElementDescriptor[T]:
    name: str
    item_type: type[T]

    @property
    def signature_parameter(self) -> Parameter:
        return Parameter(name=self.name, kind=Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY, annotation=list[self.item_type])

Expected Behavior

Definitely not an error that self.item_type is not defined. I suspect mypy tries to to convey a different error, maybe related to using variables for type parameters in generics, though I disagree with that as well since list[] is not used here in a typing context to specify a type, but is used as a value.

Actual Behavior

typing-7.py:11: error: Name "self.item_type" is not defined  [name-defined]
Found 1 error in 1 file (checked 1 source file)

Your Environment

  • Mypy version used: mypy 1.12.0+dev.6a0657e5959ba1777c4d427f8f355d499035d145 (compiled: no)
  • Mypy command-line flags: None
  • Mypy configuration options from mypy.ini (and other config files):
[tool.mypy]
enable_incomplete_feature = "NewGenericSyntax"
disable_bytearray_promotion = true
disable_memoryview_promotion = true
check_untyped_defs = true
warn_unreachable = true
warn_redundant_casts = true
warn_unused_ignores = true
  • Python version used: 3.12

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

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 running the provided ListElementDescriptor example with mypy 1.12.0+dev.6a0657e5959ba1777c4d427f8f355d499035d145 and the shown Python 3.12 configuration. Trace the diagnostic for list[self.item_type] and update it so the reported problem is accurate rather than claiming self.item_type is undefined; rerun the reproduction to confirm the misleading name-defined error is gone.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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