How deeply does Practices of the Python Pro cover duck typing?

Explains runtime method checks and shared interfaces, but stops short of formal interface enforcement.

Duck typing

As explained in Practices of the Python Pro

Duck typing is a typing approach that determines an object's suitability by the presence of the required behavior rather than by its declared class or type.

Duck typing judges an object by whether it provides the behavior a caller needs, not by its declared class. Python checks the method call at runtime and raises AttributeError when the behavior is missing. section 3.5

The idea follows the familiar duck test: if something walks and quacks like a duck, treat it as a duck. This supports polymorphism while avoiding rigid inheritance hierarchies. section 3.5

A swappable tire

A Bicycle need not know a tire’s class. Any tire-like object can be substituted when it supplies the expected information and behavior, such as a FancyTire. Likewise, command objects can vary internally as long as they provide execute for the presentation layer. section 7.2.2

How Practices of the Python Pro covers it

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Also explained in

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Go in Practice, Second EditionDuck typing is a typing approach that determines an object's suitability by the methods and behaviors it provides rather than by explicit nominal declarations.
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The Art of Unit Testing 3eDuck typing is a type-compatibility approach that accepts an object based on the operations it supports rather than its declared type or class.

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Related concepts

mockinguses · Mocking is a testing technique that replaces a real dependency with a controlled substitute to simulate behavior or inspect interactions.
Pythonuses · Python is a high-level, general-purpose, dynamically typed programming language known for readable syntax and automatic memory management.
natural language interfaceuses · A natural language interface enables interaction with a system through human-language text or speech.
iteratoruses · An iterator is an object or abstraction that provides successive values from a sequence or data source through a traversal protocol.
type checkingcontrasts with · Type checking is the process of determining whether values, expressions, or operations conform to the rules or constraints of a type system.
contractimplements · An API contract is a specification of the operations, data, and behavioral expectations that govern interactions between software components.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Practices of the Python Pro. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.