Parameter TypeVar unexpectedly becomes optional when unpacking call results
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Description
Bug Report
When calling a generic function mypy unexpectedly introduces optionality in the TypeVar when the result is unpacked and raises an error on a perfectly valid function call:
from typing import Iterable
def fun[T](values: Iterable[T], value: list[T]) -> tuple[T | None, T | None]:
...
return None, None
values: Iterable[int]
my_list: list[int]
result = fun(values, my_list) # works fine
m, n = result
a, b = fun(values, my_list) # raises error in mypy
Mypy error:
main.py:15: error: Argument 2 to "fun" has incompatible type "list[int]"; expected "list[int | None]" [arg-type]
This has something to do with the return type of the function being a tuple of optional T's. If the return type is not a union with None or not a tuple, the error disappears.
To reproduce
Here is playground gist of the example: gist
Expected Behavior
In the example I expect both calls to be approved by mypy. Also, I don't expect unpacking to influence what arguments can given in a function call, at least not in this case.
Actual Behavior
mypy raises an error on the second call.
Your Environment
I used mypy playground to confirm this error in various versions:
- Mypy version used:
1.17.11.18.2master branch - Mypy command-line flags: none
- Mypy configuration options from
mypy.ini(and other config files): none - Python version used:
3.123.133.14
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 minimal generic-function example in the issue and run it against mypy with the reported Python versions and configurations. Trace type inference for tuple unpacking and optional TypeVars; done means both calls are accepted without introducing an incompatible list[int | None] expectation.
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
- 35/100