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Created January 25, 2026 11:10
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from typing import Any, Optional, cast, TypeVar, reveal_type
## Case 1: type variable in return position of function
def f[T]() -> T:
raise Exception()
# mypy correctly refuses to type this, as it cannot infer T from the call site.
reveal_type(f())
## Case 2: type variable in return position of method
class C:
def f[T](self) -> T:
raise Exception()
# mypy correctly refuses to type this as well, and for the same reason.
reveal_type(C().f())
## Case 3: type variable in return position of method, combined with another
## type
class D:
def f[T](self) -> Optional[T]:
raise Exception()
# mypy does not return an error or warning in this case, but substitutes
# `Never` for `T`, resulting in `Never | None` being narrowed to `None`.
reveal_type(D().f())
## Case 4: two type variables in return position of method, combined in a
## type form
class E:
def f[T, U](self) -> T | U:
raise Exception()
# mypy also does not return an error or warning in this case, but substiutes
# `Never` for both `T` and `U`, resulting in `Never | Never` being narrowed
# to `Never`.
reveal_type(E().f())
## Case 5: type variable with explicit default=Any in return position of
## function
U = TypeVar("U", default=Any)
def g[U]() -> U:
raise Exception()
# Despite `U` having an explicit default, the definition of `g` returns an
# error, and `g()` is narrowed to `Never` instead of `Any`.
reveal_type(g)
reveal_type(g())
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