Python callable() Function

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.

danger

• Even if callable() is True, call to the object may still fail.
• However, if callable() returns False, call to the object will certainly fail.

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