callable() Builtin Function

Python - callable()

Python callable() builtin function is used to check if given argument is callable or not.

callable() returns a boolean value of True if the given argument is callable, or False if not.

In this tutorial, you will learn the syntax of callable() function, and then its usage with the help of example programs.

Syntax

The syntax of callable() function is

callable(object)

where

Parameter	Description
object	Any Python object.

Examples

1. Check if user defined function is callable

In the following program, we define a function sayHello(), and programmatically check if this function object is callable using callable() builtin function. Since, a function is callable, callable(sayHello) must return True.

Python Program

def sayHello():
    print('hello user')

output = callable(sayHello)
print(f'callable() : {output}')

Output

callable() : True

2. Check if integer value is callable

An integer value is not a callable object. Therefore, callable() with integer passed as argument returns False.

Python Program

object = 52
output = callable(object)
print(f'callable() : {output}')

Output

callable() : False

3. Check if built-in function is callable

print() is an inbuilt function and callable. Therefore, print as an argument to callable() returns True.

Python Program

output = callable(print)
print(f'callable() : {output}')

Output

callable() : True

4. Check if lambda function is callable

Lambda function is a callable function. callable() with lambda function passed as argument must return True.

Python Program

sayHello = lambda : print('hello user')
output = callable(sayHello)
print(f'callable() : {output}')

Output

callable() : True

Summary

In this tutorial of Python Examples, we learned the syntax of callable() function, and how to check if given object is callable or not, with examples.