class -- class of an object

Synopsis

Every object in Macaulay 2 has a class, see what a class is for more details.

i1 : class {1,2,3}

o1 = List

o1 : Type

i2 : R = QQ[a..d]

o2 = R

o2 : PolynomialRing

i3 : class R

o3 = PolynomialRing

o3 : Type

Use strict equality === to test the exact class of an object.

i4 : class R === PolynomialRing

o4 = true

i5 : class R === Ring

o5 = false

However, each PolynomialRing is a Ring, by inheritance, so a more useful test uses instance.

i6 : instance(R,Ring)

o6 = true