typing
Type Hints for Python
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are actively maintaining a Python 2.7 or 3.4 codebase. For any modern Python project (3.5+), the stdlib typing module is built-in and superior. This package is a legacy compatibility shim with no releases since 2021-05-01.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Only works on Python 2.7 and Python 3.4; on Python 3.5+, stdlib typing takes precedence.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is active, though the package has not released since 2021-05-01.
License · maintenance · safety
PSF (permissive) — Licensed under PSF (Python Software Foundation License), a permissive license. No licensing restrictions on use or redistribution.
last release 2021-05-01 (1931 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 1,774 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,872,624 downloads/mo, #2,210 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install typing
import typing
def greet(name: typing.Text) -> typing.Text:
return 'Hello ' + name- Whether this package remains necessary given that Python 2.7 and 3.4 are no longer supported
What it is and what it does
This package backports Python's standard library typing module to older Python versions (2.7 and 3.4) that predate its introduction in Python 3.5. It enables developers to use type annotations and hints—a standard notation for documenting function and variable types—on legacy Python versions, allowing static type checkers, IDEs, and other tools to analyze code for type correctness.
On Python 3.5 and later, installing this package has no effect because the standard library's typing module takes precedence. The package is intended primarily for projects that must support very old Python versions. For modern projects, the stdlib typing module is always available and receives updates with each Python release.
Use it for
- Adding type hints to a Python 2.7 codebase that cannot yet migrate to Python 3.5+
- Enabling static type checkers on legacy Python 3.4 projects
- Documenting function signatures with type annotations in pre-3.5 codebases
- Supporting older Python versions in a package while using type-checking tooling
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are actively maintaining a Python 2.7 or 3.4 codebase.
For any modern Python project (3.5+), the stdlib typing module is built-in and superior. This package is a legacy compatibility shim with no releases since 2021-05-01.
Install
typing on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is active, though the package has not released since 2021-05-01. On Python 3.5+, the stdlib typing module takes precedence and this package has no effect.
Only works on Python 2.7 and Python 3.4; on Python 3.5+, stdlib typing takes precedence.
License in practice
Licensed under PSF (Python Software Foundation License), a permissive license. No licensing restrictions on use or redistribution.
Quickstart
pip install typing
import typing
def greet(name: typing.Text) -> typing.Text:
return 'Hello ' + nameVerify before relying
- Whether this package remains necessary given that Python 2.7 and 3.4 are no longer supported
Package facts
| License | PSF permissive |
| Python support | Capped below the current Python release >=2.7, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, !=3.3.*, <3.5 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1,931 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,872,624 / month, #2,210 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Topic :: Software Development |
Evidence: typing-3.10.0.0-py2-none-any.whl; typing-3.10.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also eval-type-backport · inspect2 · typing-inspect · importlib · funcsigs · stdlib-list · numpy-typing-compat · logutils · enum-compat