Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › primitive vs non primitive values in python
r/learnpython on Reddit: Primitive VS Non Primitive values in python
September 11, 2017 -
I learned that int, string, float, boolean are primitive and array, list, tuple, dict, set, file are non primitive..
Now i'm particularity interested in the actual differences between the two...
I know from learning java that in primitive type, it copy the actual value and therefore changing one value won't change a different variable even if they were used the same root var..
Non primitive however, only use references and therefore changing one value will change in all the vars that store the same reference...
What else am i missing regarding primitive vs non primitive data types?
Thanks
Top answer 1 of 4
8
There is no such thing as a primitive value in Python, and there's no such thing as a reference. This explains it better than I can.
2 of 4
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In python an integer, for example, is an object just like a list. There is no distinction between primitive/non-primitive as there is in some other languages. There is no copy-on-assignment in python, "assignment" just associates a reference to an object with a name, whether the object is an integer or a dictionary.
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › primitive-data-types-vs-non-primitive-data-types-in-python
Primitive Data Types vs Non Primitive Data Types in Python - GeeksforGeeks
October 28, 2025 - ... x = 10 y = 10.5 is_active = True name = "Alice" print(type(x)) print(type(y)) print(type(is_active)) print(type(name)) ... Non-primitive data types can store multiple values or complex structures.
Videos
06:55
Python for Network Engineers - Primitive Data Types - YouTube
10:51
Introduction to Python #9 - Data Types (primitive) - YouTube
5. Python Data Type - Primitive & Non-Primitive(Collection) - Python ...
01:43
Difference between Primitive and Non primitive Data types #primitive ...
04:17
Learn Python Programming - 10 - Primitive Data Types - YouTube
Lecture 5: Python Datatypes: Primitive and Non Primitive, int, ...
Stack Overflow
stackoverflow.com › questions › 70954918 › what-are-primative-and-non-primative-data-types-in-python
What are Primative and Non-Primative data types in Python? - Stack Overflow
Google said: primitive data types include Integers, Float, Strings and Boolean, the non-primitive data types are Array, List, Tuples, Dictionary, Sets and Files · But Google also said that Python don't have such thing called Primative or Non ...
DataCamp
datacamp.com › tutorial › data-structures-python
Python Data Structures with Primitive & Non-Primitive Examples | DataCamp
April 6, 2023 - The former are the simplest forms of representing data, whereas the latter are more advanced: they contain primitive data structures within more complex data structures for special purposes. These are the most primitive or basic data structures. They are the building blocks for data manipulation ...
Coding Dojo
codingdojo.com › blog › top-python-data-structures
Top 3 Python Data Structures Explained - Coding Dojo
May 30, 2022 - Non-primitive Data Structures – These data structures store values, as well as a collection of values, in varying formats. The four built-in non-primitive data structures are lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets. For a deeper dive into the core semantics and syntax of Python, check out the official Python Language Reference.
Geekedu
geekedu.org › blogs › data-structures-in-python-everything-you-need-to-know
Data Structures in Python: Everything you need to know! | Coding for Kids Free
Non-primitive data types include List, Array, Tuples, Dictionary, Sets, and Files, while primitive data types include Integers, Float, Strings, and Boolean. In Python, there is another type of data structure called user-defined which is basically ...
Educative
educative.io › answers › data-types-in-python
Data Types in Python
In the same way, when coding, we encounter different types of data. Python uses labels, known as data types, to identify and handle the kind of data it’s dealing with. Sometimes, we specify the data type by using specific syntax when storing a value.
NxtWave
ccbp.in › blog › articles › difference-between-primitive-and-non-primitive-data-structure
Difference Between Primitive and Non-Primitive Data Structure
Non-primitive tells you how data is structured and managed. Keep practicing examples using both; this clarity will reflect directly in your coding logic, interviews, and problem-solving skills. ... Operations on primitive data structures include basic arithmetic operations, assignment, comparison, and logical operations, depending on the type (e.g., addition for integers, comparison for booleans). In the Python programming language, primitive data structures such as integers, strings, and booleans are built-in types used to store single values...
Topcoder
topcoder.com › thrive › articles › data-structures-and-algorithms-in-python
Data Structures and Algorithms in Python
Since integers are a type of data structure in Python, it returns true. These exist so that data structures can become more organized as they grow larger. As a program becomes more complex, there becomes a pressing need to group various kinds of primitive data types so that code does not become too clumsy. It is for this reason that the non-primitive data types were designed.
Medium
muditmathur121.medium.com › day-14-python-data-structure-7b109a7a9132
Day 14 Python Data Structure. 📑 TABLE OF CONTENTS 📑 1. Data Type 📝… | by Mudit Mathur | Medium
August 1, 2023 - In Python, primitive data structures are basic data types that are built into the language itself. These include integers, floats, boolean, and characters. They are simple and immutable, meaning their values cannot be changed once assigned.
Medium
medium.com › @priyanshishukla250604 › understanding-data-types-in-python-0c8e8ee96fde
Understanding Data Types in Python | by Priyanshishukla | Medium
November 16, 2024 - Data types determine how data is stored, manipulated, and interacted with in a program. In Python, data types are broadly classified into two categories: primitive (or built-in) and non-primitive (or user-defined).
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › python data types primitive or object?
r/learnpython on Reddit: Python Data Types Primitive or Object?
March 9, 2024 -
Could someone tell whether the following is correct?
According to Launch School's 'Introduction to Programming with Python' book: integers, floats, boolean, and strings are primitives and everything else is non-primitive. But I learnt elsewhere that they are indeed Objects and they have state (value) and functionality.
So who's correct?
I have provided with a link for that chapter if you're interested.
Source - https://launchschool.com/books/python/read/data_types#datatypes
Thanks Folks :)
Top answer 1 of 4
3
Python doesn't have any primitives in the traditional sense. Sometimes certain built-in types may be called "primitive" to distinguish them from more specialised types, but fundamentally they're all objects. For example, you could store a filepath as a string, desktop = "C:/Users/you/Desktop" but this has downsides because not every string is a valid filepath. It would be more appropriate to use a dedicated path object: from pathlib import Path desktop = Path.home() / 'Desktop' This not only validates the path, but in this example you also get to have it be cross-platform.
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Even "primitive" type int is a class with a lot of properties and attributes: print(dir(int)) ['abs', 'add', 'and', 'bool', 'ceil', 'class', 'delattr', 'dir', 'divmod', 'doc', 'eq', 'float', 'floor', 'floordiv', 'format', 'ge', 'getattribute', 'getnewargs', 'gt', 'hash', 'index', 'init', 'init_subclass', 'int', 'invert', 'le', 'lshift', 'lt', 'mod', 'mul', 'ne', 'neg', 'new', 'or', 'pos', 'pow', 'radd', 'rand', 'rdivmod', 'reduce', 'reduce_ex', 'repr', 'rfloordiv', 'rlshift', 'rmod', 'rmul', 'ror', 'round', 'rpow', 'rrshift', 'rshift', 'rsub', 'rtruediv', 'rxor', 'setattr', 'sizeof', 'str', 'sub', 'subclasshook', 'truediv', 'trunc', 'xor', 'as_integer_ratio', 'bit_length', 'conjugate', 'denominator', 'from_bytes', 'imag', 'numerator', 'real', 'to_bytes']
Scaler
scaler.com › home › topics › difference between primitive and non primitive data structure
Difference Between Primitive and Non Primitive Data Structure - Scaler Topics
March 31, 2024 - Let us understand primitive data structure with an example. A variable with the data type integer can allow storing the values of integer type only, a variable with the float data type can allow storing the values of float data type and the variable with the character data type allows storing character values only. The non-primitive data structure is further classified into two parts i.e.
Javatpoint
javatpoint.com › primitive-vs-non-primitive-data-structure
Primitive vs non-primitive data structure | What's the difference? - javatpoint
Primitive vs non-primitive data structure with Introduction, Asymptotic Analysis, Array, Pointer, Structure, Singly Linked List, Doubly Linked List, Graph, Tree, B Tree, B+ Tree, Avl Tree etc.
Pierian Training
pieriantraining.com › home › primitive data types in python
Primitive Data Types in Python | Data Structures in Python
April 27, 2023 - Additionally it can also be used ... pipelines where missing fields are expected/acceptable! In summary, primitive data types in Python are building blocks ......
Quora
quora.com › Does-Python-have-primitive-types
Does Python have primitive types? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): Question, as answered: Does Python have primitive types? Not exactly. The Python interpreter implements objects including for integers, floating point numbers, strings and byte arrays. There is no separate “character” type built into Python; character is simply a string of only ...
Web Design Booth
webdesignbooth.com › primitive-data-types-in-python
Unlock The Secrets Of Primitive Data Types In Python Today!
2 weeks ago - Primitive type assignments create completely independent values, while non-primitive assignments often share references. This behavior can lead to unexpected results if developers don’t understand the underlying mechanics.
TheLinuxCode
thelinuxcode.com › home › primitive vs non-primitive data types in python: a practical mental model
Primitive vs Non-Primitive Data Types in Python: A Practical Mental Model – TheLinuxCode
January 10, 2026 - Python treats everything as an object, and its built-in type system does not stamp a label that says “primitive” or “non-primitive.” Yet the split is useful because it maps to how data behaves under mutation and sharing. Primitive types are single values that never change once created.
Quora
quora.com › Is-string-a-primitive-or-non-primitive-data-type-in-Python
Is 'string' a primitive or non-primitive data type in Python? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): Since strings in Python are of type ‘str’ and ‘str’ is a class I’d say non-primitive. Correction: But, officially, as Tony points out, the str data type is, just like booleans, ints and floats is considered a primitive (atomic) data type because it’s values are immutable.
Upgrad
upgrad.com › home › blog › data science › data structures & algorithms in python: everything you need to know in 2026
Data Structures & Algorithms in Python | Complete Guide 2026
November 7, 2025 - In Python, data structures are everywhere, from simple lists to complex trees and graphs. Each type of structure has a specific purpose depending on the problem you’re solving.