Python callable() Function | Tutorial Reference

Check if an object is callable in Python using the built-in callable() function, including how it works with functions, classes, and instances.

The callable() function returns True if the specified object is callable, otherwise it returns False.

Syntax

callable(object)

callable() Parameters

Python callable() function parameters:

Parameter	Condition	Description
`object`	Required	The object you want to test if it is callable or not.

callable() Return Value

Python callable() method returns:

True: if the object appears callable
False: if the object is not callable.

Examples

Basic Example

A normal variable is not callable while a function is callable.

x = 123
print(callable(x))

def testFunction():
  print("Test")

y = testFunction
print(callable(y))

output

False
True

Example of callable object

class Foo:
  def __call__(self):
    print('I am callable')

print(callable(Foo))

output

True

Also, the instance of our Foo class appears to be callable (and is callable in this case):

class Foo:
  def __call__(self):
    print('I am callable')

InstanceOfFoo = Foo()
print(callable(InstanceOfFoo))    # Prints True
InstanceOfFoo()                   # Prints 'I am callable'

output

True
I am callable

Example of object that appears to be callable but it is not callable

class Foo:
  def printLine(self):
    print('I am callable')

print(callable(Foo))

output

True

The instance of Foo class appears to be callable but it's not callable. In fact, the following code will raise an error:

class Foo:
  def printLine(self):
    print('Print Something')

print(callable(Foo))

InstanceOfFoo = Foo()
InstanceOfFoo()         # Error!

output

True
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "main.py", line 8, in <module>
    InstanceOfFoo()
TypeError: 'Foo' object is not callable