eval-type-backport

Like `typing._eval_type`, but lets older Python versions use newer typing features.

eval-type-backport Permissive license MIT Active ★ 19 v0.4.0 released 2026-06-02

Install

eval-type-backport on PyPI

pip

pip install eval-type-backport

uv

uv add eval-type-backport

poetry

poetry add eval-type-backport

Package facts

License	MIT (permissive)
Python support	supports the current Python release (>=3.7)
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	none
Maintenance	actively maintained — 72 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2026-06-02
First released	2023-11-22
Popularity	one of the top 1,000 most-downloaded packages on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-13)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-13)

Evidence: eval_type_backport-0.4.0-py3-none-any.whl

License :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9

About eval-type-backport

from the package's own PyPI description — quoted content, verbatim

eval_type_backport

Build Status (image) Coverage Status (image) Supports Python versions 3.7+, including PyPy (image) Anaconda (image)

This package makes runtime typing inspection with the typing module possible with newer syntax in older Python versions. Specifically, this transforms X | Y into typing.Union[X, Y] and list[X] into typing.List[X] etc. (for all the types made generic in PEP 585) if the original syntax is not supported in the current Python version.

For users of Pydantic, merely having this package installed should make Pydantic models with newer syntax work in older Python versions.

Here's an example of how to use it...

Read as markdown · JSON record · Source repository · Homepage

AI interpretation — verify before relying

AI-generated interpretation of the package facts above; every digit, version, license, or vulnerability id it cites is grounded in the facts already shown on this page

eval_type_backport enables runtime type inspection with modern Python typing syntax (like `X | Y` and `list[X]`) on older Python versions by transforming them into their `typing` module equivalents. It works transparently with Pydantic and other libraries that rely on `typing._eval_type`.

Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies and low friction. The package is actively maintained with a recent release (72 days ago) and has been stable since its initial release in November 2023.

Licensed under MIT (permissive), so there are no restrictions on commercial or proprietary use, and the license imposes minimal obligations beyond attribution.

Usage

pip install eval-type-backport

import typing
from eval_type_backport import install_patch

install_patch()

class Foo:
    a: 'int | str'

print(typing.get_type_hints(Foo))

Requires Python 3.7 or later; the package is designed to backport syntax from newer Python versions, so it is most useful on Python 3.9 and earlier where the native `|` union operator and generic built-in types are not yet supported.

Verdict: eval_type_backport is a lightweight, actively maintained utility that solves a real compatibility problem for projects using modern typing syntax on older Python versions. With no dependencies, permissive licensing, and clean API design, it is a low-risk addition for anyone supporting Python 3.7–3.9 alongside newer versions.

Needs verification

Whether the package is widely adopted in production (popularity tier 'top_1000' is relative; absolute download volume unknown)
Performance overhead of the monkey-patching approach in large applications
Completeness of backport coverage for all PEP 585 generic types and edge cases

python typing syntax backportunion operator | older pythongeneric types list dict older versionspydantic newer syntax old pythonruntime type hints compatibilitytyping module forward compatibility