# type (1-type.org)

Type is what you do on a keyboard to write words. It is also a kind or sort of thing, like a type of fruit or a type of person.

## What a model may hear
- data type (programming languages): assume the user wants to declare or check a variable's type, such as string, integer, or boolean
- type hint (Python and similar languages): add or expect annotations like `def f(x: int)` that specify expected types
- type system (computer science and language design): discuss static versus dynamic typing, strong versus weak typing, or type safety proofs
- command-line type (Unix shells): expect the user wants to display file contents, as in the `type` builtin that shows how a command is interpreted
- font typeface (typography and design): discuss serif, sans-serif, or specific font families

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "What type is this?"
  Means: What category does this belong to?
  May be taken as: The model explains data types or asks for a programming context
  Say instead: "What category or kind of thing is this?"
- Says: "I need to type faster"
  Means: I want to improve my keyboard speed
  May be taken as: The model suggests type annotations or compiler optimizations
  Say instead: "I want to type on a keyboard faster"
- Says: "Check the type"
  Means: Verify what kind of thing this is
  May be taken as: The model writes code to call `type()` or `typeof` on a variable
  Say instead: "Tell me what kind of thing this is, not in a programming sense"
- Says: "Type it out"
  Means: Write it down with a keyboard
  May be taken as: The model generates a type definition or schema
  Say instead: "Please write this out in full text"

## Tips
- Say 'keyboard type' or 'type with my hands' if you mean writing, not data types
- Say 'category' or 'kind' instead of 'type' when you mean a general sort of thing
- In programming contexts, say 'data type' or 'variable type' to be clear
- If you mean fonts, say 'typeface' or 'font style'
- Say 'write out' or 'spell out' to avoid ambiguity with typing

## Often confused with
- kind: no programming meaning attached
- sort: more informal, rarely technical
- class: heavily object-oriented programming
- category: more abstract, less likely to trigger code
- font: only visual design, no data meaning
- input: broader, includes non-keyboard entry