type.md

TYPE

Returns the type of the value stored at a key.

Note: HelixDB's TYPE command returns the value type (the detected type of the stored string), not the data structure type as Redis does. In Redis, TYPE always returns string for any string key. HelixDB extends this to distinguish integers, floats, booleans, and JSON. When data structure types (List, Hash, Set, Sorted Set) are added in future, TYPE will return their names as Redis does.

Syntax

TYPE key

Return value

One of the following strings:

Value	Meaning
string	A plain string value
integer	A whole number (e.g. 42, -1)
float	A decimal number (e.g. 3.14)
boolean	true or false
json	A valid JSON object or array
none	Key does not exist or has expired

Errors

• wrong number of arguments for 'type' command — incorrect number of arguments.

Examples

> SET counter 42
OK

> TYPE counter
integer

> SET ratio 3.14
OK

> TYPE ratio
float

> SET active true
OK

> TYPE active
boolean

> SET payload {"user":"alice","age":30}
OK

> TYPE payload
json

> SET greeting hello
OK

> TYPE greeting
string

> TYPE missing
none