callable() in Python - GeeksforGeeks

callable() in Python

Last Updated : 28 Sep, 2026

In Python, callable() is a built-in function used to check whether an object can be called like a function. It returns True when the object appears callable and False otherwise.

Python 
def greet():
    print("Hello")

print(callable(greet))
print(callable(10))

Output
True
False

Explanation:

  • greet function is passed to callable() without calling it, so Python checks whether the function object can be invoked.
  • callable(greet) returns True.
  • Integer 10 cannot be called like a function and returns False.

Syntax

callable(object)

It takes only one argument, an object, and returns one of the two values:

  • returns True, if the object appears to be callable.
  • returns False, if the object is not callable.

Different Scenario

There may be few cases where callable() may return True even though calling the object later can still fail, for example when incorrect arguments are supplied.

When Object is Callable

Example 1:

Python 
def Geek():
    return 5


let = Geek
print(callable(let))


num = 5 * 5
print(callable(num))

Output

True
False

Example:

  • Geek is assigned to let without parentheses, so let refer to the function itself rather than its returned value.
  • Function can be invoked, callable(let) returns True.
  • Whereas num stores the integer result of an arithmetic operation and is not callable.

Example 2:

Python 
class Geek:
    def __call__(self):
        print('Hello GeeksforGeeks')

GeekObject = Geek()

print(callable(GeekObject))

GeekObject()

Output
True
Hello GeeksforGeeks

Explanation:

  • Geek class defines call(0, which allows instances to be invoked using parentheses like a function.
  • Therefore, GeekObject is callable, and calling it executes call() and prints the messages.

When Object is NOT callable

Example:

Python 
class Geek:
  def testFunc(self):
    print('Hello GeeksforGeeks')

print(callable(Geek))

GeekObject = Geek()

GeekObject()

Output: 

True
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/3979dc83032f2d29befe45b6ee6001a4.py", line 10, in 
    GeekObject()
TypeError: 'Geek' object is not callable

Explanation:

  • Geek class itself is callable because classes can be called to create objects, so callable(Geek) returns True.
  • GeekObject does not define call(), so attempting to execute GeekObject() raises a TypeError.
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