Python Docstring - two different types of arguments of a function

I tried to make my function-description look beautiful but it didn't work. The problem is that I have two types of returns: a list and a string. Then you hover on functions vscode shows the returns of the functions like this. I found out that you can define one type of return using this example (-> str):

def function(x, y) -> str:
  string = "test"
  return string

But let's say I have tow diffrent return in my code:

def function(x, y):
  if x == 1:
    string = "test"
    return string
  else:
    list = [1, 2]
    return list

How to assign two different types of returns to that function? here is another example

Solution

Depending on your Python version, there are multiple ways this can be epxressed:

Prior to 3.9:

from typing import Union, List
def foo() -> Union[str, List]: pass

Since Python v. 3.9 you can also write:

 from typing import Union
 def foo() -> Union[str, list]: pass

Since Python v. 3.10 you can also write:
```
 def foo() -> str | list: pass
```