What does strict typing mean in programming?

Static typing means that the data type of a variable is determined at compile-time or run-time, and the programming language enforces adherence to these types, restricting or prohibiting operations between incompatible types.

Main characteristics in the context of Python (dynamic, duck typing, but still considered conditionally "strict" compared to C/C++):

• Implicit type conversion: Python performs fewer automatic type conversions than some other languages. For example, you cannot directly add a string and a number.

  # Example of implicit conversion that won't work
  # print("Number: " + 5) # Will raise TypeError
  

• Type checking at runtime: Errors related to type incompatibility are usually detected during program execution.

  # Example of type checking at runtime
  def add_numbers(a, b):
      if not isinstance(a, (int, float)) or not isinstance(b, (int, float)):
          raise TypeError("Both arguments must be numbers")
      return a + b
  
  # add_numbers(5, "text") # Will raise TypeError
  

• Type preservation: The data type of a variable usually persists throughout its lifecycle unless an explicit conversion or assignment of a different type occurs.

  # Example of type preservation
  x = 10      # x has type int
  x = "Hello" # Now x has type str - dynamic typing, but the type is preserved after assignment
  

Strict typing (even in dynamically typed Python) helps prevent errors related to incorrect operations between data of different types, making the code more predictable and safe.