Comparison operators emit "Unsupported operand types" when using `isinstance` to narrow `TypeVar` to union of numeric types
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Description
Bug Report
I have a generic class that wraps a bool, float, int, or str. It implements the comparison operator magic methods like __lt__ etc., using isinstance to ensure that callers don't mix bool/float/int with str. With mypy 1.16.1, this does not error, but with mypy 1.17.0, the comparison operators started emitting "error: Unsupported operand types for < (likely involving Union) [operator]"
To Reproduce
Minimal reproduction (using a generic function instead of a generic class): https://mypy-play.net/?mypy=latest&python=3.12&gist=dd4696c3ba71103c49d7a4aaf34b2aef
def f[T: float | int | str](x: T, y: T) -> bool:
if isinstance(x, (float, int)) and isinstance(y, (float, int)):
return x < y
elif isinstance(x, str) and isinstance(y, str):
return x < y
else:
raise TypeError
Expected Behavior
No errors.
Actual Behavior
test3.py:3: error: Unsupported operand types for < (likely involving Union) [operator]
Found 1 error in 1 file (checked 1 source file)
It does not error if I remove the type variable and use union types directly:
def f(x: float | int | str, y: float | int | str) -> bool:
Your Environment
- Mypy version used: 1.17.0
- Mypy command-line flags: none
- Mypy configuration options from
mypy.ini(and other config files): none - Python version used: 3.12.9
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the mypy-play reproduction and the equivalent test3.py snippet under mypy 1.17.0, then compare its TypeVar narrowing with the direct-union version. Trace the type-checking path for isinstance narrowing and comparison operators. Done means the generic example produces no error while mixed-type comparisons remain rejected.
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
- 48/100