Menu
Coddy logo textTech
START LEARNING
flag En iconEnglishdown icon

The type() Function

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Lua journey — lesson 9 of 90.

The type() function takes any value or variable as input and returns a string that tells you what data type it is. Here's how it works:

playerScore = 100
playerName = "Coddy"
isReady = true
emptyValue = nil

print(type(playerScore))  -- outputs: number
print(type(playerName))   -- outputs: string
print(type(isReady))      -- outputs: boolean
print(type(emptyValue))   -- outputs: nil
challenge icon

Challenge

Easy

You are provided with several pre-defined variables containing different types of data. Use the type() function to determine and print the data type of each variable.

The variables are:

  • mysteryValue1 = 42
  • mysteryValue2 = "Adventure"
  • mysteryValue3 = false
  • mysteryValue4 = nil

Print the type of each variable in order, one per line.

Expected Output:

number
string
boolean
nil

Cheat sheet

The type() function returns the data type of a value or variable as a string:

playerScore = 100
playerName = "Coddy"
isReady = true
emptyValue = nil

print(type(playerScore))  -- outputs: number
print(type(playerName))   -- outputs: string
print(type(isReady))      -- outputs: boolean
print(type(emptyValue))   -- outputs: nil

Try it yourself

-- Pre-defined variables
mysteryValue1 = 42
mysteryValue2 = "Adventure"
mysteryValue3 = false
mysteryValue4 = nil

-- TODO: Write your code here to determine and print the type of each variable
quiz iconTest yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Fundamentals

1Introduction

The LanguageHello World!Comments

4Operators 2 Relational & Logic

Equality OperatorsRelational OperatorsThe 'and' OperatorThe 'or' OperatorThe 'not' OperatorShort-Circuit EvaluationTruthy and Falsy ValuesRecap - Simple Logic

7Basic Conditional Logic

The if-then StatementThe if-then-else StatementThe elseif StatementRecap - Treasure Chest

10Tables Part 1: List-Style

What is a Table?Creating a TableAccessing Elements by IndexModifying Elements by IndexThe Length Operator '#'table.insert()table.remove()Recap - Manage Party Members

13Project: Simple Potion Shop

Project SetupAdding a PotionProject lessonDisplaying the InventoryProject lessonCalculating Total Stock ValueProject lessonFinding a Specific PotionProject lessonSelling a PotionProject lesson

2Variables and Data Types

What is a Variable?NumbersStringsBooleansThe Value 'nil'The type() FunctionNaming ConventionsRecap - Character Profile

5Basic Output

Printing LiteralsPrinting VariablesPrinting Multiple ValuesCombining Strings & VariablesThe tostring() FunctionInputCastRecap - Status ReportRecap - Till 120

8String Manipulation Basics

string.len()string.upper & string.lowerstring.sub()string.rep()string.find()Recap - Format Username

11Tables 2: Dictionary-Style

Key-Value PairsCreating Dictionary-Style TablAccessing - Bracket NotationAccessing with Dot NotationAdding and Modifying PairsRemoving Pairs with nilRecap - Item Properties

14Variable Scope

Global VariablesLocal VariablesWhy Use Local Variables?Scope and BlocksRecap - Scope Puzzle

3Operators 1 Arithmetic & Conc

Arithmetic OperatorsModulo OperatorExponentiation OperatorString ConcatenationOperator PrecedenceRecap - Simple Calculations

6Project: Character Stats Disp

Welcome MessageDeclare Character StatsProject lessonDisplay Basic StatsProject lessonAdd a Boolean FlagProject lessonFinal SummaryProject lesson

9Functions Basics

Declaring a FunctionCalling a FunctionFunctions with ParametersFunctions with Multiple ParamsThe 'return' StatementRecap - Area Calculator

12Loops Basics

The while LoopThe repeat-until LoopThe Numeric for Loopfor Loop with a StepThe 'break' StatementRecap - Countdown

15Final Challenges

Recap - Player TurnRecap - Simple DatabaseRecap - Sum of Even Numbers