# <typeinfo>

**[<typeinfo>](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/header/typeinfo)** provides `std::type_info`, an object that holds type metadata available at runtime (via `typeid()`). You can compare `type_info` objects, get a name (though it's mangled), or use `before()` to sort types.

Use it for runtime type identification; wrap it in `std::type_index` if you need a hashable version.

## Example

This example uses typeid to get runtime type information and check if values match specific types.

```cpp
// compile: g++ -std=c++11 -o typeinfoexample typeinfoexample.cpp
// run: ./typeinfoexample
// description: runtime type identification

#include <typeinfo>
#include <iostream>

void identify(int) { std::cout << "got int\n"; }
void identify(double) { std::cout << "got double\n"; }

int main() {
    const std::type_info& ti = typeid(42);
    std::cout << "typeid(42): " << ti.name() << "\n";
    
    if (typeid(int) == typeid(42)) {
        std::cout << "42 is int\n";
    }
    
    return 0;
}
```