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How to write a function on python that accepts two objects in input and gives on output minimal type which both of objects can be presented? For example, if we have [1, 2, 3] and 2 we can convert it to str, if we have "Hi" and 1.2 we can convert it to str, if we have True and 1.2 we can convert it to float and so on.

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  • Can you please clarify what you mean by "if we have True and 1.2, we can convert it to float"? Do you mean you can convert True to a float? Commented Jan 27, 2022 at 3:36
  • This looks like an x y problem. What are you trying to solve with it? Commented Jan 27, 2022 at 3:52
  • @ewong Yes. And it's minimum possible type to convesation. For example, we can convert them to str, but float is less than str, that's why the answer is float Commented Jan 27, 2022 at 3:53
  • @KlausD. I tried to write some inequalities like type(int) < type(float) < .... < type(str), but that's not correct Commented Jan 27, 2022 at 3:55
  • Why should one type be less than the other? Commented Jan 27, 2022 at 4:01

2 Answers 2

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All objects in Python can be converted to strings, even user defined class instances.

>>> class Test:
    pass

>>> t = Test()
>>> str(t)
'<__main__.Test object at 0x0000015315891730>'
>>> str(1)
'1'
>>> str(True)
'True'
>>> str([1, 2, 3])
'[1, 2, 3]'
>>>

This is because they have a __str__ function that is automatically defined even if you don't define it.

Edit: You can do it like this (pardon the ugly code)

def leastConversions(first, second):
    type_casts = [str, int, float, tuple, list, dict]
    times = {}
    for _type in type_casts:

        if not isinstance(first, _type):
            times[_type] = 0
            try:
                if not isinstance(first, _type):
                    temp = _type(first)
                    times[_type] += 1
            except TypeError:
                del times[_type]
                continue
            
            try:
                if not isinstance(second, _type):
                    temp = _type(second)
                    times[_type] += 1
            except TypeError:
                del times[_type]
                continue
    return min(times, key = lambda k: times[k])
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4 Comments

It is obvious that we can convert it all to str, but the question: what is the minimum type, that both of objects can be converted to? For example, the answer for True and 1.2 is float, the answer for [1, 2] and (1, 2) is list and so on
The answer for True and 1.2 is also str, unless you're looking for the least number of conversions you need?
I edited my answer, perhaps this is what you're asking for.
But it has a problem. I tried to make the same thing with isinstance but when you compare int and float it convert it to int, not to float. My atteempt is lower
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When compare int and float answer is int but should be float

def type_convertion(first, second):
    data_types = [int, float, tuple, list, str]
    times = {}
    for _type in data_types:
        times[_type] = 0
        try:
            if isinstance(_type(first), _type):
                times[_type] += 1
        except TypeError:
            del times[_type]
            continue
        try:
            if isinstance(_type(second), _type):
                times[_type] += 1
        except TypeError:
            del times[_type]
            continue
        return times.keys()
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1 Comment

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