The types module

# File: types-example-1.py

import types

def check(object):
    print object,
    if type(object) is types.IntType:
        print "INTEGER",
    if type(object) is types.FloatType:
        print "FLOAT",
    if type(object) is types.StringType:
        print "STRING",
    if type(object) is types.ClassType:
        print "CLASS",
    if type(object) is types.InstanceType:
        print "INSTANCE",
    print

check(0)
check(0.0)
check("0")

class A:
    pass

class B:
    pass

check(A)
check(B)

a = A()
b = B()

check(a)
check(b)

0 INTEGER
0.0 FLOAT
0 STRING
A CLASS
B CLASS
<A instance at 796960> INSTANCE
<B instance at 796990> INSTANCE