python checking list-like but not string, bytes, dicts, etc

Another option would be checking if your variable is an Iterable, but manually exclude what you think should not be accepted:

from collections.abc import Iterable

excluded_types = (str, dict)
if isinstance(obj, Iterable) and not isinstance(obj, excluded_types):
  do_something()

But you should define what iterable behavior you are expecting to consider something "list-like".

You could create your own function for this:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

def is_list_like(obj):
    valid_types = (list, tuple, set, np.ndarray, pd.Series)
    return isinstance(obj, valid_types)

This works for any arbitrary definition of "list-like" you prefer to use - just add/remove types from the valid_types tuple.

Assuming you are using numpy, you can construct an array and check its dimensions. Anything with ndim of zero almost fits your definition.

>>> import numpy as np
>>> f = np.asarray("hello") # string
>>> f.ndim
0
>>> f=np.asarray({1:2,3:4}) # dict
>>> f.ndim
0
>>> f=np.asarray([1,2,3,4]) # list
>>> f.ndim
1
>>> f=np.asarray((1,2,3,4)) # tuple
>>> f.ndim
1

Unfortunately, this does not appear to work for set.

>>> f=np.asarray({1,2,3,4}) # set
>>> f.ndim
0