'Go to Definition' should be special-cased for `typing` aliases for `collections.abc` ABCs

[jonathandung]

Type: Bug

When I click 'Go to Definition' on a type such as Iterable, even if it is imported directly from _collections_abc, I expect to be directed to either typing.pyi (the stub) or collections/abc.py (the definition). However, I am brought to neither and instead end up at the definition of the alias in typing.py, which is frankly useless to most! I know the type annotations are in typing.pyi to avoid code duplication (the symbols are after all available from both collections.abc and typing, though the latter is deprecated), and maybe this is why the implementation was thought to be in typing.py. However, I think it worth it to special case these abstract base classes to avoid this whim.

Extension version: 2026.2.101
VS Code version: Code 1.117.0 (10c8e557c8b9f9ed0a87f61f1c9a44bde731c409, 2026-04-21T16:12:14-07:00)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz (8 x 2419)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0x9a49 [Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics], DRIVER_VENDOR=Intel, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.101.6737 ACTIVE GPU1: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.26100.8246 Machine model name: Machine model version: direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	7.85GB (1.70GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 9453c078-702b-4b0c-be82-802577994672
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

A/B Experiments

vsliv368cf:30146710
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
6abeh943:31336334
envsdeactivate2:31505458
cloudbuttont:31379625
42190218_ostrepl:31403339
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31454198
inlinechat_v2_hd992725:31505030
4je02754:31466945
8hhj4413:31478653
38bie571_auto:31429954
cp_cls_t_1081:31454832
conptydll_true:31498968
ia-use-proxy-models-svc:31452481
e9c30283:31461165
test_treatment2:31471001
46204921:31447328
control_6dc23131:31497324
idci7584:31464702
e3e4d672:31494082
ei9d7968:31496641
nes-extended-on:31455476
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
89g7j272:31504412
7e187181:31503455
cpptoolson-v2:31475363
i2gc6536:31499202
ghj88844:31499326
ec1eg703:31491645
client_tst_t:31495907
ddid_c:31478207
getcmakediagnosticson:31489824
pro_large_t:31499376
cp_cls_c_1082:31504161
719di409_sum_t:31505221
logging_enabled_new:31498466
j0d79568:31499440
nes-dist-check-on:31503267
748c7209:31497895
e8jdj427:31505714

[github-actions]

Hi @jonathandung, I'm an AI Support assistant here to help with your issue. While the team reviews your request, I wanted to provide some possible tips and documentation that might help you in the meantime.

---

Similar Issues (FYI only, not solutions)

The following issues may or may not be related to your report. They are provided for reference only, as they may describe similar symptoms, affect the same feature, or address related concerns, but may not be the same issue.

• Import suggestion should suggest collections.abc instead of typing for container types – Import suggestion should suggest collections.abc instead of typing for container types #4738
• Go to definition goes to stub files instead of actual definitions – Go to definition goes to stub files instead of actual definitions #3227

---

The team will respond to your issue shortly. Please note this is a trial feature and may not be fully accurate. I hope these suggestions are helpful in the meantime. If this comment helped you, please give it a 👍. If the suggestion was not helpful or was incorrect, please give it a 👎. Your feedback helps us improve!

[Enegg]

FYI "Go to Declaration" does send you to the typing.pyi file.

[jonathandung]

I learned that after fiddling with the options, but thanks anyways. However, it would be only natural that 'Go to Definition' brings me that too, or even better, collections/abc.py, since typing.py does not even define the symbols; again, I am not importing from typing.