From 1b7b883b7c301ade3506c83702c70cfa44ae76cc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: David Stansby <dstansby@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:51:45 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 1/5] Parametrize Array with v2/v3 metadata

---
 src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py                  |  9 ++--
 src/zarr/api/synchronous.py                   | 33 +++++++------
 src/zarr/core/array.py                        | 32 ++++++------
 src/zarr/core/attributes.py                   |  4 +-
 src/zarr/core/group.py                        | 49 ++++++++++---------
 src/zarr/core/indexing.py                     | 19 +++----
 src/zarr/core/metadata/__init__.py            |  2 +-
 src/zarr/core/sync_group.py                   | 10 ++--
 src/zarr/testing/strategies.py                |  3 +-
 src/zarr/types.py                             | 14 ++++++
 tests/test_api.py                             |  5 +-
 tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py           |  8 ++-
 tests/test_array.py                           | 15 +++---
 tests/test_attributes.py                      |  9 ++--
 .../test_v2_dtype_regression.py               | 10 ++--
 15 files changed, 127 insertions(+), 95 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/zarr/types.py

diff --git a/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py b/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py
index d3613f7c05..2f6777a74a 100644
--- a/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py
+++ b/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import dataclasses
 import warnings
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal, cast
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal, TypeAlias, cast
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.typing as npt
@@ -56,9 +56,12 @@
     from zarr.core.buffer import NDArrayLikeOrScalar
     from zarr.core.chunk_key_encodings import ChunkKeyEncoding
     from zarr.storage import StoreLike
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
     # TODO: this type could use some more thought
-    ArrayLike = AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | Array | npt.NDArray[Any]
+    ArrayLike: TypeAlias = (
+        AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AnyArray | npt.NDArray[Any]
+    )
     PathLike = str
 
 __all__ = [
@@ -568,7 +571,7 @@ async def tree(grp: AsyncGroup, expand: bool | None = None, level: int | None =
 
 
 async def array(
-    data: npt.ArrayLike | Array, **kwargs: Any
+    data: npt.ArrayLike | AnyArray, **kwargs: Any
 ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
     """Create an array filled with `data`.
 
diff --git a/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py b/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py
index 1146a6876f..a092c84cbb 100644
--- a/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py
+++ b/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
     )
     from zarr.core.dtype import ZDTypeLike
     from zarr.storage import StoreLike
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 __all__ = [
     "array",
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ def open(
     path: str | None = None,
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     **kwargs: Any,  # TODO: type kwargs as valid args to async_api.open
-) -> Array | Group:
+) -> AnyArray | Group:
     """Open a group or array using file-mode-like semantics.
 
     Parameters
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ def tree(grp: Group, expand: bool | None = None, level: int | None = None) -> An
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def array(data: npt.ArrayLike | Array, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def array(data: npt.ArrayLike | AnyArray, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array filled with `data`.
 
     Parameters
@@ -633,7 +634,7 @@ def create(
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
     **kwargs: Any,
-) -> Array:
+) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array.
 
     Parameters
@@ -769,7 +770,7 @@ def create_array(
     overwrite: bool = False,
     config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
     write_data: bool = True,
-) -> Array:
+) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array.
 
     This function wraps :func:`zarr.core.array.create_array`.
@@ -916,7 +917,7 @@ def create_array(
 def from_array(
     store: str | StoreLike,
     *,
-    data: Array | npt.ArrayLike,
+    data: AnyArray | npt.ArrayLike,
     write_data: bool = True,
     name: str | None = None,
     chunks: Literal["auto", "keep"] | tuple[int, ...] = "keep",
@@ -933,7 +934,7 @@ def from_array(
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     overwrite: bool = False,
     config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-) -> Array:
+) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array from an existing array or array-like.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1127,7 +1128,7 @@ def from_array(
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def empty(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def empty(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an empty array with the specified shape. The contents will be filled with the
     array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -1154,7 +1155,7 @@ def empty(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 # TODO: move ArrayLike to common module
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def empty_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def empty_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an empty array like another array. The contents will be filled with the
     array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -1180,7 +1181,7 @@ def empty_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs and fill_value
-def full(shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def full(shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array with a default fill value.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1202,7 +1203,7 @@ def full(shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 # TODO: move ArrayLike to common module
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def full_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def full_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create a filled array like another array.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1221,7 +1222,7 @@ def full_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def ones(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def ones(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array with a fill value of one.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1240,7 +1241,7 @@ def ones(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def ones_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def ones_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array of ones like another array.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1266,7 +1267,7 @@ def open_array(
     path: PathLike = "",
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     **kwargs: Any,
-) -> Array:
+) -> AnyArray:
     """Open an array using file-mode-like semantics.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1302,7 +1303,7 @@ def open_array(
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def open_like(a: ArrayLike, path: str, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def open_like(a: ArrayLike, path: str, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Open a persistent array like another array.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1323,7 +1324,7 @@ def open_like(a: ArrayLike, path: str, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def zeros(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def zeros(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array with a fill value of zero.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1342,7 +1343,7 @@ def zeros(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-def zeros_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+def zeros_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
     """Create an array of zeros like another array.
 
     Parameters
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/array.py b/src/zarr/core/array.py
index 51e638edd8..6e0dc90100 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/array.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/array.py
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
     from zarr.core.dtype.wrapper import TBaseDType, TBaseScalar
     from zarr.core.group import AsyncGroup
     from zarr.storage import StoreLike
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 
 # Array and AsyncArray are defined in the base ``zarr`` namespace
@@ -1844,12 +1845,12 @@ def _info(
 
 # TODO: Array can be a frozen data class again once property setters (e.g. shape) are removed
 @dataclass(frozen=False)
-class Array:
+class Array(Generic[T_ArrayMetadata]):
     """
     A Zarr array.
     """
 
-    _async_array: AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]
+    _async_array: AsyncArray[T_ArrayMetadata]
 
     @classmethod
     @deprecated("Use zarr.create_array instead.", category=ZarrDeprecationWarning)
@@ -1882,7 +1883,7 @@ def create(
         # runtime
         overwrite: bool = False,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """Creates a new Array instance from an initialized store.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
@@ -2011,7 +2012,7 @@ def _create(
         # runtime
         overwrite: bool = False,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """Creates a new Array instance from an initialized store.
         See :func:`Array.create` for more details.
         Deprecated in favor of :func:`zarr.create_array`.
@@ -2037,14 +2038,14 @@ def _create(
                 config=config,
             ),
         )
-        return cls(async_array)
+        return Array(async_array)
 
     @classmethod
     def from_dict(
         cls,
         store_path: StorePath,
         data: dict[str, JSON],
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """
         Create a Zarr array from a dictionary.
 
@@ -2068,13 +2069,13 @@ def from_dict(
             If the dictionary data is invalid or missing required fields for array creation.
         """
         async_array = AsyncArray.from_dict(store_path=store_path, data=data)
-        return cls(async_array)
+        return Array(async_array)
 
     @classmethod
     def open(
         cls,
         store: StoreLike,
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """Opens an existing Array from a store.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2088,7 +2089,7 @@ def open(
             Array opened from the store.
         """
         async_array = sync(AsyncArray.open(store))
-        return cls(async_array)
+        return Array(async_array)
 
     @property
     def store(self) -> Store:
@@ -3743,7 +3744,7 @@ def append(self, data: npt.ArrayLike, axis: int = 0) -> tuple[int, ...]:
         """
         return sync(self._async_array.append(data, axis=axis))
 
-    def update_attributes(self, new_attributes: dict[str, JSON]) -> Array:
+    def update_attributes(self, new_attributes: dict[str, JSON]) -> Self:
         """
         Update the array's attributes.
 
@@ -3768,11 +3769,8 @@ def update_attributes(self, new_attributes: dict[str, JSON]) -> Array:
         - The updated attributes will be merged with existing attributes, and any conflicts will be
           overwritten by the new values.
         """
-        # TODO: remove this cast when type inference improves
         new_array = sync(self._async_array.update_attributes(new_attributes))
-        # TODO: remove this cast when type inference improves
-        _new_array = cast("AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]", new_array)
-        return type(self)(_new_array)
+        return type(self)(new_array)
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"<Array {self.store_path} shape={self.shape} dtype={self.dtype}>"
@@ -3927,7 +3925,7 @@ class ShardsConfigParam(TypedDict):
 async def from_array(
     store: str | StoreLike,
     *,
-    data: Array | npt.ArrayLike,
+    data: AnyArray | npt.ArrayLike,
     write_data: bool = True,
     name: str | None = None,
     chunks: Literal["auto", "keep"] | tuple[int, ...] = "keep",
@@ -4164,7 +4162,7 @@ async def from_array(
         if isinstance(data, Array):
 
             async def _copy_array_region(
-                chunk_coords: tuple[int, ...] | slice, _data: Array
+                chunk_coords: tuple[int, ...] | slice, _data: AnyArray
             ) -> None:
                 arr = await _data._async_array.getitem(chunk_coords)
                 await result.setitem(chunk_coords, arr)
@@ -4592,7 +4590,7 @@ async def create_array(
 
 
 def _parse_keep_array_attr(
-    data: Array | npt.ArrayLike,
+    data: AnyArray | npt.ArrayLike,
     chunks: Literal["auto", "keep"] | tuple[int, ...],
     shards: ShardsLike | None | Literal["keep"],
     filters: FiltersLike | Literal["keep"],
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/attributes.py b/src/zarr/core/attributes.py
index e699c4f66d..a4fe80020f 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/attributes.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/attributes.py
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Iterator
 
-    from zarr.core.array import Array
     from zarr.core.group import Group
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 
 class Attributes(MutableMapping[str, JSON]):
-    def __init__(self, obj: Array | Group) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, obj: AnyArray | Group) -> None:
         # key=".zattrs", read_only=False, cache=True, synchronizer=None
         self._obj = obj
 
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/group.py b/src/zarr/core/group.py
index 4c14fb357c..64ed169ff4 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/group.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/group.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
     from zarr.core.chunk_key_encodings import ChunkKeyEncodingLike
     from zarr.core.common import MemoryOrder
     from zarr.core.dtype import ZDTypeLike
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray, ArrayV2, ArrayV3
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("zarr.group")
 
@@ -111,7 +112,11 @@ def parse_attributes(data: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
 
 
 @overload
-def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]) -> Array: ...
+def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]) -> ArrayV3: ...
+
+
+@overload
+def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]) -> ArrayV2: ...
 
 
 @overload
@@ -120,7 +125,7 @@ def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncGroup) -> Group: ...
 
 def _parse_async_node(
     node: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup,
-) -> Array | Group:
+) -> AnyArray | Group:
     """Wrap an AsyncArray in an Array, or an AsyncGroup in a Group."""
     if isinstance(node, AsyncArray):
         return Array(node)
@@ -1877,7 +1882,7 @@ def open(
         obj = sync(AsyncGroup.open(store, zarr_format=zarr_format))
         return cls(obj)
 
-    def __getitem__(self, path: str) -> Array | Group:
+    def __getitem__(self, path: str) -> AnyArray | Group:
         """Obtain a group member.
 
         Parameters
@@ -1910,7 +1915,7 @@ def __getitem__(self, path: str) -> Array | Group:
         else:
             return Group(obj)
 
-    def get(self, path: str, default: DefaultT | None = None) -> Array | Group | DefaultT | None:
+    def get(self, path: str, default: DefaultT | None = None) -> AnyArray | Group | DefaultT | None:
         """Obtain a group member, returning default if not found.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2146,7 +2151,7 @@ def nmembers(self, max_depth: int | None = 0) -> int:
 
     def members(
         self, max_depth: int | None = 0, *, use_consolidated_for_children: bool = True
-    ) -> tuple[tuple[str, Array | Group], ...]:
+    ) -> tuple[tuple[str, AnyArray | Group], ...]:
         """
         Returns an AsyncGenerator over the arrays and groups contained in this group.
         This method requires that `store_path.store` supports directory listing.
@@ -2182,7 +2187,7 @@ def create_hierarchy(
         nodes: dict[str, ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata | GroupMetadata],
         *,
         overwrite: bool = False,
-    ) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Group | Array]]:
+    ) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Group | AnyArray]]:
         """
         Create a hierarchy of arrays or groups rooted at this group.
 
@@ -2321,7 +2326,7 @@ def group_values(self) -> Generator[Group, None]:
         for _, group in self.groups():
             yield group
 
-    def arrays(self) -> Generator[tuple[str, Array], None]:
+    def arrays(self) -> Generator[tuple[str, AnyArray], None]:
         """Return the sub-arrays of this group as a generator of (name, array) pairs
 
         Examples
@@ -2352,7 +2357,7 @@ def array_keys(self) -> Generator[str, None]:
         for name, _ in self.arrays():
             yield name
 
-    def array_values(self) -> Generator[Array, None]:
+    def array_values(self) -> Generator[AnyArray, None]:
         """Return an iterator over group members.
 
         Examples
@@ -2438,7 +2443,7 @@ def require_groups(self, *names: str) -> tuple[Group, ...]:
         """
         return tuple(map(Group, self._sync(self._async_group.require_groups(*names))))
 
-    def create(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def create(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         # Backwards compatibility for 2.x
         return self.create_array(*args, **kwargs)
 
@@ -2464,7 +2469,7 @@ def create_array(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
         write_data: bool = True,
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an array within this group.
 
         This method lightly wraps :func:`zarr.core.array.create_array`.
@@ -2592,7 +2597,7 @@ def create_array(
         )
 
     @deprecated("Use Group.create_array instead.", category=ZarrDeprecationWarning)
-    def create_dataset(self, name: str, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def create_dataset(self, name: str, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an array.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
@@ -2616,7 +2621,7 @@ def create_dataset(self, name: str, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.create_dataset(name, **kwargs)))
 
     @deprecated("Use Group.require_array instead.", category=ZarrDeprecationWarning)
-    def require_dataset(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def require_dataset(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Obtain an array, creating if it doesn't exist.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
@@ -2640,7 +2645,7 @@ def require_dataset(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Arra
         """
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.require_array(name, shape=shape, **kwargs)))
 
-    def require_array(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def require_array(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Obtain an array, creating if it doesn't exist.
 
         Other `kwargs` are as per :func:`zarr.Group.create_array`.
@@ -2658,7 +2663,7 @@ def require_array(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
         """
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.require_array(name, shape=shape, **kwargs)))
 
-    def empty(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def empty(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an empty array with the specified shape in this Group. The contents will be filled with
         the array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -2679,7 +2684,7 @@ def empty(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
         """
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.empty(name=name, shape=shape, **kwargs)))
 
-    def zeros(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def zeros(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an array, with zero being used as the default value for uninitialized portions of the array.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2698,7 +2703,7 @@ def zeros(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
         """
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.zeros(name=name, shape=shape, **kwargs)))
 
-    def ones(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def ones(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an array, with one being used as the default value for uninitialized portions of the array.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2719,7 +2724,7 @@ def ones(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
 
     def full(
         self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any | None, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an array, with "fill_value" being used as the default value for uninitialized portions of the array.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2744,7 +2749,7 @@ def full(
             )
         )
 
-    def empty_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def empty_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an empty sub-array like `data`. The contents will be filled
         with the array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -2770,7 +2775,7 @@ def empty_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) ->
         """
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.empty_like(name=name, data=data, **kwargs)))
 
-    def zeros_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def zeros_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create a sub-array of zeros like `data`.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2790,7 +2795,7 @@ def zeros_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) ->
 
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.zeros_like(name=name, data=data, **kwargs)))
 
-    def ones_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def ones_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create a sub-array of ones like `data`.
 
         Parameters
@@ -2809,7 +2814,7 @@ def ones_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> A
         """
         return Array(self._sync(self._async_group.ones_like(name=name, data=data, **kwargs)))
 
-    def full_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> Array:
+    def full_like(self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyArray:
         """Create a sub-array like `data` filled with the `fill_value` of `data` .
 
         Parameters
@@ -2859,7 +2864,7 @@ def array(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         config: ArrayConfig | ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
-    ) -> Array:
+    ) -> AnyArray:
         """Create an array within this group.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/indexing.py b/src/zarr/core/indexing.py
index 16cb271601..12ab2e30e2 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/indexing.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/indexing.py
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@
 from zarr.core.metadata import T_ArrayMetadata
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from zarr.core.array import Array, AsyncArray
+    from zarr.core.array import AsyncArray
     from zarr.core.buffer import NDArrayLikeOrScalar
     from zarr.core.chunk_grids import ChunkGrid
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 
 IntSequence = list[int] | npt.NDArray[np.intp]
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ def err_too_many_indices(selection: Any, shape: tuple[int, ...]) -> None:
     raise IndexError(f"too many indices for array; expected {len(shape)}, got {len(selection)}")
 
 
-def _zarr_array_to_int_or_bool_array(arr: Array) -> npt.NDArray[np.intp] | npt.NDArray[np.bool_]:
+def _zarr_array_to_int_or_bool_array(arr: AnyArray) -> npt.NDArray[np.intp] | npt.NDArray[np.bool_]:
     if arr.dtype.kind in ("i", "b"):
         return np.asarray(arr)
     else:
@@ -930,10 +931,10 @@ def __iter__(self) -> Iterator[ChunkProjection]:
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class OIndex:
-    array: Array
+    array: AnyArray
 
     # TODO: develop Array generic and move zarr.Array[np.intp] | zarr.Array[np.bool_] to ArrayOfIntOrBool
-    def __getitem__(self, selection: OrthogonalSelection | Array) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
+    def __getitem__(self, selection: OrthogonalSelection | AnyArray) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
         from zarr.core.array import Array
 
         # if input is a Zarr array, we materialize it now.
@@ -960,7 +961,7 @@ def __setitem__(self, selection: OrthogonalSelection, value: npt.ArrayLike) -> N
 class AsyncOIndex(Generic[T_ArrayMetadata]):
     array: AsyncArray[T_ArrayMetadata]
 
-    async def getitem(self, selection: OrthogonalSelection | Array) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
+    async def getitem(self, selection: OrthogonalSelection | AnyArray) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
         from zarr.core.array import Array
 
         # if input is a Zarr array, we materialize it now.
@@ -1059,7 +1060,7 @@ def __iter__(self) -> Iterator[ChunkProjection]:
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class BlockIndex:
-    array: Array
+    array: AnyArray
 
     def __getitem__(self, selection: BasicSelection) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
         fields, new_selection = pop_fields(selection)
@@ -1250,11 +1251,11 @@ def __init__(
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class VIndex:
-    array: Array
+    array: AnyArray
 
     # TODO: develop Array generic and move zarr.Array[np.intp] | zarr.Array[np.bool_] to ArrayOfIntOrBool
     def __getitem__(
-        self, selection: CoordinateSelection | MaskSelection | Array
+        self, selection: CoordinateSelection | MaskSelection | AnyArray
     ) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
         from zarr.core.array import Array
 
@@ -1291,7 +1292,7 @@ class AsyncVIndex(Generic[T_ArrayMetadata]):
 
     # TODO: develop Array generic and move zarr.Array[np.intp] | zarr.Array[np.bool_] to ArrayOfIntOrBool
     async def getitem(
-        self, selection: CoordinateSelection | MaskSelection | Array
+        self, selection: CoordinateSelection | MaskSelection | AnyArray
     ) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:
         # TODO deduplicate these internals with the sync version of getitem
         # TODO requires solving this circular sync issue: https://github.com/zarr-developers/zarr-python/pull/3083#discussion_r2230737448
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/metadata/__init__.py b/src/zarr/core/metadata/__init__.py
index 43b5ec98fe..87a66d23f3 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/metadata/__init__.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 ArrayMetadata: TypeAlias = ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata
 ArrayMetadataDict: TypeAlias = ArrayV2MetadataDict | ArrayV3MetadataDict
-T_ArrayMetadata = TypeVar("T_ArrayMetadata", ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata)
+T_ArrayMetadata = TypeVar("T_ArrayMetadata", ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata, covariant=True)
 
 __all__ = [
     "ArrayMetadata",
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/sync_group.py b/src/zarr/core/sync_group.py
index 39d8a17992..417362b122 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/sync_group.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/sync_group.py
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@
     from collections.abc import Iterator
 
     from zarr.abc.store import Store
-    from zarr.core.array import Array
     from zarr.core.common import ZarrFormat
     from zarr.core.metadata import ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 
 def create_nodes(
     *, store: Store, nodes: dict[str, GroupMetadata | ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata]
-) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Group | Array]]:
+) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Group | AnyArray]]:
     """Create a collection of arrays and / or groups concurrently.
 
     Note: no attempt is made to validate that these arrays and / or groups collectively form a
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def create_hierarchy(
     store: Store,
     nodes: dict[str, GroupMetadata | ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata],
     overwrite: bool = False,
-) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Group | Array]]:
+) -> Iterator[tuple[str, Group | AnyArray]]:
     """
     Create a complete zarr hierarchy from a collection of metadata objects.
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def create_rooted_hierarchy(
     store: Store,
     nodes: dict[str, GroupMetadata | ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata],
     overwrite: bool = False,
-) -> Group | Array:
+) -> Group | AnyArray:
     """
     Create a Zarr hierarchy with a root, and return the root node, which could be a ``Group``
     or ``Array`` instance.
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def create_rooted_hierarchy(
     return _parse_async_node(async_node)
 
 
-def get_node(store: Store, path: str, zarr_format: ZarrFormat) -> Array | Group:
+def get_node(store: Store, path: str, zarr_format: ZarrFormat) -> AnyArray | Group:
     """
     Get an Array or Group from a path in a Store.
 
diff --git a/src/zarr/testing/strategies.py b/src/zarr/testing/strategies.py
index d0726c3dd9..862b38a562 100644
--- a/src/zarr/testing/strategies.py
+++ b/src/zarr/testing/strategies.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 from zarr.storage import MemoryStore, StoreLike
 from zarr.storage._common import _dereference_path
 from zarr.storage._utils import normalize_path
+from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 # Copied from Xarray
 _attr_keys = st.text(st.characters(), min_size=1)
@@ -246,7 +247,7 @@ def arrays(
     arrays: st.SearchStrategy | None = None,
     attrs: st.SearchStrategy = attrs,
     zarr_formats: st.SearchStrategy = zarr_formats,
-) -> Array:
+) -> AnyArray:
     store = draw(stores, label="store")
     path = draw(paths, label="array parent")
     name = draw(array_names, label="array name")
diff --git a/src/zarr/types.py b/src/zarr/types.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..faf44f4632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/zarr/types.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from typing import Any, TypeAlias
+
+from zarr.core.array import Array
+from zarr.core.metadata.v2 import ArrayV2Metadata
+from zarr.core.metadata.v3 import ArrayV3Metadata
+
+AnyArray: TypeAlias = Array[Any]
+AnyArray.__doc__ = "A Zarr format 2 or 3 `Array`"
+
+ArrayV2: TypeAlias = Array[ArrayV2Metadata]
+ArrayV2.__doc__ = "A Zarr format 2 `Array`"
+
+ArrayV3: TypeAlias = Array[ArrayV3Metadata]
+ArrayV3.__doc__ = "A Zarr format 3 `Array`"
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 5447a0aa39..d80bbc69ac 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
     from zarr.abc.store import Store
     from zarr.core.common import JSON, MemoryOrder, ZarrFormat
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 import contextlib
 from typing import Literal
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ def test_open_array_respects_write_empty_chunks_config(zarr_format: ZarrFormat)
 def test_open_normalized_path(
     memory_store: MemoryStore, path: str, node_type: Literal["array", "group"]
 ) -> None:
-    node: Group | Array
+    node: Group | AnyArray
     if node_type == "group":
         node = group(store=memory_store, path=path)
     elif node_type == "array":
@@ -1409,7 +1410,7 @@ def test_no_overwrite_load(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         zarr.zeros_like,
     ],
 )
-def test_auto_chunks(f: Callable[..., Array]) -> None:
+def test_auto_chunks(f: Callable[..., AnyArray]) -> None:
     # Make sure chunks are set automatically across the public API
     # TODO: test shards with this test too
     shape = (1000, 1000)
diff --git a/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py b/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py
index 910fd2883c..451cb178f9 100644
--- a/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py
+++ b/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py
@@ -10,13 +10,14 @@
 from zarr import create_array
 from zarr.api.asynchronous import _get_shape_chunks, _like_args, open
 from zarr.core.buffer.core import default_buffer_prototype
+from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Any
 
     import numpy.typing as npt
 
-    from zarr.core.array import Array, AsyncArray
+    from zarr.core.array import AsyncArray
     from zarr.core.metadata import ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata
 
 
@@ -80,7 +81,10 @@ def test_get_shape_chunks(
     ],
 )
 def test_like_args(
-    observed: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | Array | npt.NDArray[Any],
+    observed: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]
+    | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]
+    | AnyArray
+    | npt.NDArray[Any],
     expected: object,
 ) -> None:
     """
diff --git a/tests/test_array.py b/tests/test_array.py
index a316ee127f..e78826dc20 100644
--- a/tests/test_array.py
+++ b/tests/test_array.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
     ZarrUserWarning,
 )
 from zarr.storage import LocalStore, MemoryStore, StorePath
+from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 from .test_dtype.conftest import zdtype_examples
 
@@ -357,9 +358,9 @@ def test_storage_transformers(store: MemoryStore, zarr_format: ZarrFormat | str)
             Array.from_dict(StorePath(store), data=metadata_dict)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [Array, AsyncArray[Any]])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [AnyArray, AsyncArray[Any]])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("nchunks", [2, 5, 10])
-def test_nchunks(test_cls: type[Array] | type[AsyncArray[Any]], nchunks: int) -> None:
+def test_nchunks(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AsyncArray[Any]], nchunks: int) -> None:
     """
     Test that nchunks returns the number of chunks defined for the array.
     """
@@ -374,8 +375,8 @@ def test_nchunks(test_cls: type[Array] | type[AsyncArray[Any]], nchunks: int) ->
     assert observed == expected
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [Array, AsyncArray[Any]])
-async def test_nchunks_initialized(test_cls: type[Array] | type[AsyncArray[Any]]) -> None:
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [AnyArray, AsyncArray[Any]])
+async def test_nchunks_initialized(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AsyncArray[Any]]) -> None:
     """
     Test that nchunks_initialized accurately returns the number of stored chunks.
     """
@@ -1428,7 +1429,7 @@ async def test_with_data(impl: Literal["sync", "async"], store: Store) -> None:
         """
         data = np.arange(10)
         name = "foo"
-        arr: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | Array
+        arr: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AnyArray
         if impl == "sync":
             arr = sync_api.create_array(store, name=name, data=data)
             stored = arr[:]
@@ -1649,7 +1650,7 @@ async def test_from_array_arraylike(
     store: Store,
     chunks: Literal["auto", "keep"] | tuple[int, int],
     write_data: bool,
-    src: Array | npt.ArrayLike,
+    src: AnyArray | npt.ArrayLike,
 ) -> None:
     fill_value = 42
     result = zarr.from_array(
@@ -1734,7 +1735,7 @@ def test_roundtrip_numcodecs() -> None:
     assert metadata["codecs"] == expected
 
 
-def _index_array(arr: Array, index: Any) -> Any:
+def _index_array(arr: AnyArray, index: Any) -> Any:
     return arr[index]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_attributes.py b/tests/test_attributes.py
index 4ce40e2cb0..269704d2a0 100644
--- a/tests/test_attributes.py
+++ b/tests/test_attributes.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import json
-from typing import Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 from tests.conftest import deep_nan_equal
 from zarr.core.common import ZarrFormat
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
+
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("zarr_format", [2, 3])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ def test_update_no_changes() -> None:
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("group", [True, False])
 def test_del_works(group: bool) -> None:
     store = zarr.storage.MemoryStore()
-    z: zarr.Group | zarr.Array
+    z: zarr.Group | AnyArray
     if group:
         z = zarr.create_group(store)
     else:
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ def test_del_works(group: bool) -> None:
     del z.attrs["a"]
     assert dict(z.attrs) == {"c": 4}
 
-    z2: zarr.Group | zarr.Array
+    z2: zarr.Group | AnyArray
     if group:
         z2 = zarr.open_group(store)
     else:
diff --git a/tests/test_regression/test_v2_dtype_regression.py b/tests/test_regression/test_v2_dtype_regression.py
index ffe273490d..4f3329e88c 100644
--- a/tests/test_regression/test_v2_dtype_regression.py
+++ b/tests/test_regression/test_v2_dtype_regression.py
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@
 import zarr.abc.codec
 import zarr.codecs as zarrcodecs
 from zarr.abc.numcodec import Numcodec
-from zarr.core.array import Array
 from zarr.core.chunk_key_encodings import V2ChunkKeyEncoding
 from zarr.core.dtype.npy.bytes import VariableLengthBytes
 from zarr.core.dtype.npy.string import VariableLengthUTF8
 from zarr.storage import LocalStore
+from zarr.types import ArrayV2, ArrayV3
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from zarr.core.dtype import ZDTypeLike
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class ArrayParams:
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def source_array_v2(tmp_path: Path, request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Array:
+def source_array_v2(tmp_path: Path, request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> ArrayV2:
     """
     Writes a zarr array to a temporary directory based on the provided ArrayParams. The array is
     returned.
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def source_array_v2(tmp_path: Path, request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Array:
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def source_array_v3(tmp_path: Path, request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Array:
+def source_array_v3(tmp_path: Path, request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> ArrayV3:
     """
     Writes a zarr array to a temporary directory based on the provided ArrayParams. The array is
     returned.
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def source_array_v3(tmp_path: Path, request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Array:
     "source_array_v2", array_cases_v2_18, indirect=True, ids=tuple(map(str, array_cases_v2_18))
 )
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("script_path", script_paths)
-def test_roundtrip_v2(source_array_v2: Array, tmp_path: Path, script_path: Path) -> None:
+def test_roundtrip_v2(source_array_v2: ArrayV2, tmp_path: Path, script_path: Path) -> None:
     out_path = tmp_path / "out"
     copy_op = subprocess.run(
         [
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def test_roundtrip_v2(source_array_v2: Array, tmp_path: Path, script_path: Path)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "source_array_v3", array_cases_v3_08, indirect=True, ids=tuple(map(str, array_cases_v3_08))
 )
-def test_roundtrip_v3(source_array_v3: Array, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+def test_roundtrip_v3(source_array_v3: ArrayV3, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     script_path = Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "scripts" / "v3.0.8.py"
     out_path = tmp_path / "out"
     copy_op = subprocess.run(

From 88e113def7afa05334e776ec1e91bd7f38ec219e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: David Stansby <dstansby@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:57:53 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 2/5] Try fixing docstrings

---
 src/zarr/types.py | 6 +++---
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/zarr/types.py b/src/zarr/types.py
index faf44f4632..f685505291 100644
--- a/src/zarr/types.py
+++ b/src/zarr/types.py
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 from zarr.core.metadata.v3 import ArrayV3Metadata
 
 AnyArray: TypeAlias = Array[Any]
-AnyArray.__doc__ = "A Zarr format 2 or 3 `Array`"
+"""A Zarr format 2 or 3 `Array`"""
 
 ArrayV2: TypeAlias = Array[ArrayV2Metadata]
-ArrayV2.__doc__ = "A Zarr format 2 `Array`"
+"""A Zarr format 2 `Array`"""
 
 ArrayV3: TypeAlias = Array[ArrayV3Metadata]
-ArrayV3.__doc__ = "A Zarr format 3 `Array`"
+"""A Zarr format 3 `Array`"""

From 6ff833ddb5cd539dd4d81b2c96cf18d486dee991 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: David Stansby <dstansby@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:12:26 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 3/5] Add an AnyAsyncArray type

---
 src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py        | 54 +++++-----------
 src/zarr/core/array.py              | 24 ++++----
 src/zarr/core/group.py              | 96 +++++++++++------------------
 src/zarr/types.py                   |  6 +-
 tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py |  2 +-
 tests/test_array.py                 | 19 +++---
 tests/test_codecs/test_codecs.py    |  5 +-
 7 files changed, 81 insertions(+), 125 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py b/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py
index 2f6777a74a..ada922cdd0 100644
--- a/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py
+++ b/src/zarr/api/asynchronous.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     GroupMetadata,
     create_hierarchy,
 )
-from zarr.core.metadata import ArrayMetadataDict, ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata
+from zarr.core.metadata import ArrayMetadataDict, ArrayV2Metadata
 from zarr.errors import (
     GroupNotFoundError,
     NodeTypeValidationError,
@@ -56,12 +56,10 @@
     from zarr.core.buffer import NDArrayLikeOrScalar
     from zarr.core.chunk_key_encodings import ChunkKeyEncoding
     from zarr.storage import StoreLike
-    from zarr.types import AnyArray
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray
 
     # TODO: this type could use some more thought
-    ArrayLike: TypeAlias = (
-        AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AnyArray | npt.NDArray[Any]
-    )
+    ArrayLike: TypeAlias = AnyAsyncArray | AnyArray | npt.NDArray[Any]
     PathLike = str
 
 __all__ = [
@@ -313,7 +311,7 @@ async def open(
     path: str | None = None,
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     **kwargs: Any,  # TODO: type kwargs as valid args to open_array
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup:
     """Convenience function to open a group or array using file-mode-like semantics.
 
     Parameters
@@ -570,9 +568,7 @@ async def tree(grp: AsyncGroup, expand: bool | None = None, level: int | None =
     return await grp.tree(expand=expand, level=level)
 
 
-async def array(
-    data: npt.ArrayLike | AnyArray, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def array(data: npt.ArrayLike | AnyArray, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array filled with `data`.
 
     Parameters
@@ -904,7 +900,7 @@ async def create(
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
     **kwargs: Any,
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1076,9 +1072,7 @@ async def create(
     )
 
 
-async def empty(
-    shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def empty(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an empty array with the specified shape. The contents will be filled with the
     array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -1099,9 +1093,7 @@ async def empty(
     return await create(shape=shape, fill_value=None, **kwargs)
 
 
-async def empty_like(
-    a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def empty_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an empty array like `a`. The contents will be filled with the
     array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -1128,9 +1120,7 @@ async def empty_like(
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for fill_value and kwargs
-async def full(
-    shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def full(shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array, with `fill_value` being used as the default value for
     uninitialized portions of the array.
 
@@ -1152,9 +1142,7 @@ async def full(
 
 
 # TODO: add type annotations for kwargs
-async def full_like(
-    a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def full_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create a filled array like `a`.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1175,9 +1163,7 @@ async def full_like(
     return await full(**like_kwargs)
 
 
-async def ones(
-    shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def ones(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array, with one being used as the default value for
     uninitialized portions of the array.
 
@@ -1196,9 +1182,7 @@ async def ones(
     return await create(shape=shape, fill_value=1, **kwargs)
 
 
-async def ones_like(
-    a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def ones_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array of ones like `a`.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1225,7 +1209,7 @@ async def open_array(
     path: PathLike = "",
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     **kwargs: Any,  # TODO: type kwargs as valid args to save
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Open an array using file-mode-like semantics.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1273,9 +1257,7 @@ async def open_array(
         raise
 
 
-async def open_like(
-    a: ArrayLike, path: str, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]:
+async def open_like(a: ArrayLike, path: str, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Open a persistent array like `a`.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1298,9 +1280,7 @@ async def open_like(
     return await open_array(path=path, **like_kwargs)
 
 
-async def zeros(
-    shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def zeros(shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array, with zero being used as the default value for
     uninitialized portions of the array.
 
@@ -1319,9 +1299,7 @@ async def zeros(
     return await create(shape=shape, fill_value=0, **kwargs)
 
 
-async def zeros_like(
-    a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+async def zeros_like(a: ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array of zeros like `a`.
 
     Parameters
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/array.py b/src/zarr/core/array.py
index 6e0dc90100..b389e34e49 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/array.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/array.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
     from zarr.core.dtype.wrapper import TBaseDType, TBaseScalar
     from zarr.core.group import AsyncGroup
     from zarr.storage import StoreLike
-    from zarr.types import AnyArray
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray
 
 
 # Array and AsyncArray are defined in the base ``zarr`` namespace
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ async def create(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]: ...
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray: ...
 
     @classmethod
     @deprecated("Use zarr.api.asynchronous.create_array instead.", category=ZarrDeprecationWarning)
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ async def create(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Method to create a new asynchronous array instance.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ async def _create(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Method to create a new asynchronous array instance.
         See :func:`AsyncArray.create` for more details.
         Deprecated in favor of :func:`zarr.api.asynchronous.create_array`.
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ async def _create(
             _chunks = normalize_chunks(chunk_shape, shape, item_size)
         config_parsed = parse_array_config(config)
 
-        result: AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]
+        result: AnyAsyncArray
         if zarr_format == 3:
             if dimension_separator is not None:
                 raise ValueError(
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ def from_dict(
         cls,
         store_path: StorePath,
         data: dict[str, JSON],
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """
         Create a Zarr array from a dictionary, with support for both Zarr format 2 and 3 metadata.
 
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ async def open(
         cls,
         store: StoreLike,
         zarr_format: ZarrFormat | None = 3,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """
         Async method to open an existing Zarr array from a given store.
 
@@ -3830,7 +3830,7 @@ def info_complete(self) -> Any:
 
 
 async def chunks_initialized(
-    array: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata],
+    array: AnyAsyncArray,
 ) -> tuple[str, ...]:
     """
     Return the keys of the chunks that have been persisted to the storage backend.
@@ -3862,7 +3862,7 @@ async def chunks_initialized(
 
 
 def _build_parents(
-    node: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup,
+    node: AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup,
 ) -> list[AsyncGroup]:
     from zarr.core.group import AsyncGroup, GroupMetadata
 
@@ -3942,7 +3942,7 @@ async def from_array(
     storage_options: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
     overwrite: bool = False,
     config: ArrayConfig | ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array from an existing array or array-like.
 
     Parameters
@@ -4205,7 +4205,7 @@ async def init_array(
     dimension_names: DimensionNames = None,
     overwrite: bool = False,
     config: ArrayConfigLike | None,
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create and persist an array metadata document.
 
     Parameters
@@ -4426,7 +4426,7 @@ async def create_array(
     overwrite: bool = False,
     config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
     write_data: bool = True,
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray:
     """Create an array.
 
     Parameters
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/group.py b/src/zarr/core/group.py
index 64ed169ff4..f74836c9e8 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/group.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/group.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
     from zarr.core.chunk_key_encodings import ChunkKeyEncodingLike
     from zarr.core.common import MemoryOrder
     from zarr.core.dtype import ZDTypeLike
-    from zarr.types import AnyArray, ArrayV2, ArrayV3
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray, ArrayV2, ArrayV3
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("zarr.group")
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncGroup) -> Group: ...
 
 
 def _parse_async_node(
-    node: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup,
+    node: AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup,
 ) -> AnyArray | Group:
     """Wrap an AsyncArray in an Array, or an AsyncGroup in a Group."""
     if isinstance(node, AsyncArray):
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ async def setitem(self, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
     async def getitem(
         self,
         key: str,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup:
         """
         Get a subarray or subgroup from the group.
 
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ async def getitem(
 
     def _getitem_consolidated(
         self, store_path: StorePath, key: str, prefix: str
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup:
         # getitem, in the special case where we have consolidated metadata.
         # Note that this is a regular def (non async) function.
         # This shouldn't do any additional I/O.
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ async def delitem(self, key: str) -> None:
 
     async def get(
         self, key: str, default: DefaultT | None = None
-    ) -> AsyncArray[Any] | AsyncGroup | DefaultT | None:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup | DefaultT | None:
         """Obtain a group member, returning default if not found.
 
         Parameters
@@ -987,9 +987,7 @@ async def require_group(self, name: str, overwrite: bool = False) -> AsyncGroup:
             grp = await self.create_group(name, overwrite=True)
         else:
             try:
-                item: (
-                    AsyncGroup | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]
-                ) = await self.getitem(name)
+                item: AsyncGroup | AnyAsyncArray = await self.getitem(name)
                 if not isinstance(item, AsyncGroup):
                     raise TypeError(
                         f"Incompatible object ({item.__class__.__name__}) already exists"
@@ -1038,7 +1036,7 @@ async def create_array(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
         write_data: bool = True,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an array within this group.
 
         This method lightly wraps :func:`zarr.core.array.create_array`.
@@ -1163,9 +1161,7 @@ async def create_array(
         )
 
     @deprecated("Use AsyncGroup.create_array instead.", category=ZarrDeprecationWarning)
-    async def create_dataset(
-        self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    async def create_dataset(self, name: str, *, shape: ShapeLike, **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an array.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
@@ -1205,7 +1201,7 @@ async def require_dataset(
         dtype: npt.DTypeLike = None,
         exact: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Any,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Obtain an array, creating if it doesn't exist.
 
         .. deprecated:: 3.0.0
@@ -1242,7 +1238,7 @@ async def require_array(
         dtype: npt.DTypeLike = None,
         exact: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Any,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Obtain an array, creating if it doesn't exist.
 
         Other `kwargs` are as per :func:`zarr.AsyncGroup.create_dataset`.
@@ -1352,7 +1348,7 @@ async def members(
         *,
         use_consolidated_for_children: bool = True,
     ) -> AsyncGenerator[
-        tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup],
+        tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup],
         None,
     ]:
         """
@@ -1391,7 +1387,7 @@ async def members(
     def _members_consolidated(
         self, max_depth: int | None, prefix: str = ""
     ) -> Generator[
-        tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup],
+        tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup],
         None,
     ]:
         consolidated_metadata = self.metadata.consolidated_metadata
@@ -1416,9 +1412,7 @@ def _members_consolidated(
 
     async def _members(
         self, max_depth: int | None, *, use_consolidated_for_children: bool = True
-    ) -> AsyncGenerator[
-        tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup], None
-    ]:
+    ) -> AsyncGenerator[tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup], None]:
         skip_keys: tuple[str, ...]
         if self.metadata.zarr_format == 2:
             skip_keys = (".zattrs", ".zgroup", ".zarray", ".zmetadata")
@@ -1458,9 +1452,7 @@ async def create_hierarchy(
         nodes: dict[str, ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata | GroupMetadata],
         *,
         overwrite: bool = False,
-    ) -> AsyncIterator[
-        tuple[str, AsyncGroup | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]]
-    ]:
+    ) -> AsyncIterator[tuple[str, AsyncGroup | AnyAsyncArray]]:
         """
         Create a hierarchy of arrays or groups rooted at this group.
 
@@ -1574,9 +1566,7 @@ async def group_values(self) -> AsyncGenerator[AsyncGroup, None]:
 
     async def arrays(
         self,
-    ) -> AsyncGenerator[
-        tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]], None
-    ]:
+    ) -> AsyncGenerator[tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray], None]:
         """Iterate over arrays."""
         async for key, value in self.members():
             if isinstance(value, AsyncArray):
@@ -1589,7 +1579,7 @@ async def array_keys(self) -> AsyncGenerator[str, None]:
 
     async def array_values(
         self,
-    ) -> AsyncGenerator[AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata], None]:
+    ) -> AsyncGenerator[AnyAsyncArray, None]:
         """Iterate over array values."""
         async for _, array in self.arrays():
             yield array
@@ -1619,9 +1609,7 @@ async def tree(self, expand: bool | None = None, level: int | None = None) -> An
             raise NotImplementedError("'expand' is not yet implemented.")
         return await group_tree_async(self, max_depth=level)
 
-    async def empty(
-        self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    async def empty(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an empty array with the specified shape in this Group. The contents will
         be filled with the array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -1642,9 +1630,7 @@ async def empty(
         """
         return await async_api.empty(shape=shape, store=self.store_path, path=name, **kwargs)
 
-    async def zeros(
-        self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    async def zeros(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an array, with zero being used as the default value for uninitialized portions of the array.
 
         Parameters
@@ -1663,9 +1649,7 @@ async def zeros(
         """
         return await async_api.zeros(shape=shape, store=self.store_path, path=name, **kwargs)
 
-    async def ones(
-        self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    async def ones(self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], **kwargs: Any) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an array, with one being used as the default value for uninitialized portions of the array.
 
         Parameters
@@ -1686,7 +1670,7 @@ async def ones(
 
     async def full(
         self, *, name: str, shape: tuple[int, ...], fill_value: Any | None, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an array, with "fill_value" being used as the default value for uninitialized portions of the array.
 
         Parameters
@@ -1715,7 +1699,7 @@ async def full(
 
     async def empty_like(
         self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create an empty sub-array like `data`. The contents will be filled with
         the array's fill value or zeros if no fill value is provided.
 
@@ -1737,7 +1721,7 @@ async def empty_like(
 
     async def zeros_like(
         self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create a sub-array of zeros like `data`.
 
         Parameters
@@ -1758,7 +1742,7 @@ async def zeros_like(
 
     async def ones_like(
         self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create a sub-array of ones like `data`.
 
         Parameters
@@ -1779,7 +1763,7 @@ async def ones_like(
 
     async def full_like(
         self, *, name: str, data: async_api.ArrayLike, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AnyAsyncArray:
         """Create a sub-array like `data` filled with the `fill_value` of `data` .
 
         Parameters
@@ -2992,9 +2976,7 @@ async def create_hierarchy(
     store: Store,
     nodes: dict[str, GroupMetadata | ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata],
     overwrite: bool = False,
-) -> AsyncIterator[
-    tuple[str, AsyncGroup | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]]
-]:
+) -> AsyncIterator[tuple[str, AsyncGroup | AnyAsyncArray]]:
     """
     Create a complete zarr hierarchy from a collection of metadata objects.
 
@@ -3156,9 +3138,7 @@ async def create_nodes(
     *,
     store: Store,
     nodes: dict[str, GroupMetadata | ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata],
-) -> AsyncIterator[
-    tuple[str, AsyncGroup | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]]
-]:
+) -> AsyncIterator[tuple[str, AsyncGroup | AnyAsyncArray]]:
     """Create a collection of arrays and / or groups concurrently.
 
     Note: no attempt is made to validate that these arrays and / or groups collectively form a
@@ -3336,7 +3316,7 @@ def _ensure_consistent_zarr_format(
 
 async def _getitem_semaphore(
     node: AsyncGroup, key: str, semaphore: asyncio.Semaphore | None
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup:
     """
     Wrap Group.getitem with an optional semaphore.
 
@@ -3356,9 +3336,7 @@ async def _iter_members(
     node: AsyncGroup,
     skip_keys: tuple[str, ...],
     semaphore: asyncio.Semaphore | None,
-) -> AsyncGenerator[
-    tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup], None
-]:
+) -> AsyncGenerator[tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup], None]:
     """
     Iterate over the arrays and groups contained in a group.
 
@@ -3373,7 +3351,7 @@ async def _iter_members(
 
     Yields
     ------
-    tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup]
+    tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup]
     """
 
     # retrieve keys from storage
@@ -3412,9 +3390,7 @@ async def _iter_members_deep(
     skip_keys: tuple[str, ...],
     semaphore: asyncio.Semaphore | None = None,
     use_consolidated_for_children: bool = True,
-) -> AsyncGenerator[
-    tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup], None
-]:
+) -> AsyncGenerator[tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup], None]:
     """
     Iterate over the arrays and groups contained in a group, and optionally the
     arrays and groups contained in those groups.
@@ -3437,7 +3413,7 @@ async def _iter_members_deep(
 
     Yields
     ------
-    tuple[str, AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup]
+    tuple[str, AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup]
     """
 
     to_recurse = {}
@@ -3452,7 +3428,7 @@ async def _iter_members_deep(
         if (
             is_group
             and not use_consolidated_for_children
-            and node.metadata.consolidated_metadata is not None  # type: ignore [union-attr]
+            and node.metadata.consolidated_metadata is not None
         ):
             node = cast("AsyncGroup", node)
             # We've decided not to trust consolidated metadata at this point, because we're
@@ -3597,7 +3573,7 @@ def _build_node(*, store: Store, path: str, metadata: GroupMetadata) -> AsyncGro
 
 def _build_node(
     *, store: Store, path: str, metadata: ArrayV3Metadata | ArrayV2Metadata | GroupMetadata
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup:
     """
     Take a metadata object and return a node (AsyncArray or AsyncGroup).
     """
@@ -3649,9 +3625,7 @@ async def _get_node_v3(store: Store, path: str) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] |
     return _build_node(store=store, path=path, metadata=metadata)
 
 
-async def get_node(
-    store: Store, path: str, zarr_format: ZarrFormat
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+async def get_node(store: Store, path: str, zarr_format: ZarrFormat) -> AnyAsyncArray | AsyncGroup:
     """
     Get an AsyncArray or AsyncGroup from a path in a Store.
 
@@ -3729,7 +3703,7 @@ async def create_rooted_hierarchy(
     store: Store,
     nodes: dict[str, GroupMetadata | ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV3Metadata],
     overwrite: bool = False,
-) -> AsyncGroup | AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+) -> AsyncGroup | AnyAsyncArray:
     """
     Create an ``AsyncGroup`` or ``AsyncArray`` from a store and a dict of metadata documents.
     This function ensures that its input contains a specification of a root node,
diff --git a/src/zarr/types.py b/src/zarr/types.py
index f685505291..2164710f1c 100644
--- a/src/zarr/types.py
+++ b/src/zarr/types.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 from typing import Any, TypeAlias
 
-from zarr.core.array import Array
+from zarr.core.array import Array, AsyncArray
 from zarr.core.metadata.v2 import ArrayV2Metadata
 from zarr.core.metadata.v3 import ArrayV3Metadata
 
+AnyAsyncArray: TypeAlias = AsyncArray[Any]
+"""A Zarr format 2 or 3 `AsyncArray`"""
+
+
 AnyArray: TypeAlias = Array[Any]
 """A Zarr format 2 or 3 `Array`"""
 
diff --git a/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py b/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py
index 451cb178f9..025c130a87 100644
--- a/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py
+++ b/tests/test_api/test_asynchronous.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from zarr import create_array
 from zarr.api.asynchronous import _get_shape_chunks, _like_args, open
 from zarr.core.buffer.core import default_buffer_prototype
-from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Any
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@
 
     from zarr.core.array import AsyncArray
     from zarr.core.metadata import ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/tests/test_array.py b/tests/test_array.py
index e78826dc20..0d70bfc39d 100644
--- a/tests/test_array.py
+++ b/tests/test_array.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 import zarr.api.asynchronous
 import zarr.api.synchronous as sync_api
 from tests.conftest import skip_object_dtype
-from zarr import Array, AsyncArray, Group
+from zarr import Array, Group
 from zarr.abc.store import Store
 from zarr.codecs import (
     BytesCodec,
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 )
 from zarr.core._info import ArrayInfo
 from zarr.core.array import (
+    AsyncArray,
     CompressorsLike,
     FiltersLike,
     _parse_chunk_encoding_v2,
@@ -61,7 +62,6 @@
 from zarr.core.group import AsyncGroup
 from zarr.core.indexing import BasicIndexer
 from zarr.core.metadata.v2 import ArrayV2Metadata
-from zarr.core.metadata.v3 import ArrayV3Metadata
 from zarr.core.sync import sync
 from zarr.errors import (
     ContainsArrayError,
@@ -69,13 +69,12 @@
     ZarrUserWarning,
 )
 from zarr.storage import LocalStore, MemoryStore, StorePath
-from zarr.types import AnyArray
+from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray
 
 from .test_dtype.conftest import zdtype_examples
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from zarr.abc.codec import CodecJSON_V3
-    from zarr.core.metadata.v3 import ArrayV3Metadata
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("store", ["local", "memory", "zip"], indirect=["store"])
@@ -358,9 +357,9 @@ def test_storage_transformers(store: MemoryStore, zarr_format: ZarrFormat | str)
             Array.from_dict(StorePath(store), data=metadata_dict)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [AnyArray, AsyncArray[Any]])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("nchunks", [2, 5, 10])
-def test_nchunks(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AsyncArray[Any]], nchunks: int) -> None:
+def test_nchunks(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AnyAsyncArray], nchunks: int) -> None:
     """
     Test that nchunks returns the number of chunks defined for the array.
     """
@@ -375,8 +374,8 @@ def test_nchunks(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AsyncArray[Any]], nchunks: int)
     assert observed == expected
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [AnyArray, AsyncArray[Any]])
-async def test_nchunks_initialized(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AsyncArray[Any]]) -> None:
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("test_cls", [AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray])
+async def test_nchunks_initialized(test_cls: type[AnyArray] | type[AnyAsyncArray]) -> None:
     """
     Test that nchunks_initialized accurately returns the number of stored chunks.
     """
@@ -1332,7 +1331,7 @@ async def test_v2_chunk_encoding(
     ) -> None:
         if dtype == "str" and filters != "auto":
             pytest.skip("Only the auto filters are compatible with str dtype in this test.")
-        arr = await create_array(
+        arr: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] = await create_array(
             store=store,
             dtype=dtype,
             shape=(10,),
@@ -1429,7 +1428,7 @@ async def test_with_data(impl: Literal["sync", "async"], store: Store) -> None:
         """
         data = np.arange(10)
         name = "foo"
-        arr: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AnyArray
+        arr: AnyAsyncArray | AnyArray
         if impl == "sync":
             arr = sync_api.create_array(store, name=name, data=data)
             stored = arr[:]
diff --git a/tests/test_codecs/test_codecs.py b/tests/test_codecs/test_codecs.py
index dfedbb83de..59455dbe33 100644
--- a/tests/test_codecs/test_codecs.py
+++ b/tests/test_codecs/test_codecs.py
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@
     from zarr.abc.store import Store
     from zarr.core.buffer.core import NDArrayLikeOrScalar
     from zarr.core.common import MemoryOrder
+    from zarr.types import AnyAsyncArray
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class _AsyncArrayProxy:
-    array: AsyncArray[Any]
+    array: AnyAsyncArray
 
     def __getitem__(self, selection: BasicSelection) -> _AsyncArraySelectionProxy:
         return _AsyncArraySelectionProxy(self.array, selection)
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ def __getitem__(self, selection: BasicSelection) -> _AsyncArraySelectionProxy:
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class _AsyncArraySelectionProxy:
-    array: AsyncArray[Any]
+    array: AnyAsyncArray
     selection: BasicSelection
 
     async def get(self) -> NDArrayLikeOrScalar:

From d5c77f37134ad4d64fbce0846d2aa76a3eba464f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: David Stansby <dstansby@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:17:15 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 4/5] Add async array v2 and v3 types

---
 src/zarr/core/array.py | 18 +++++++++---------
 src/zarr/core/group.py | 18 +++++++-----------
 src/zarr/types.py      |  5 +++++
 3 files changed, 21 insertions(+), 20 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/zarr/core/array.py b/src/zarr/core/array.py
index b389e34e49..c746f12d82 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/array.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/array.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
     from zarr.core.dtype.wrapper import TBaseDType, TBaseScalar
     from zarr.core.group import AsyncGroup
     from zarr.storage import StoreLike
-    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray, AsyncArrayV2, AsyncArrayV3
 
 
 # Array and AsyncArray are defined in the base ``zarr`` namespace
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ class AsyncArray(Generic[T_ArrayMetadata]):
 
     @overload
     def __init__(
-        self: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata],
+        self: AsyncArrayV2,
         metadata: ArrayV2Metadata | ArrayV2MetadataDict,
         store_path: StorePath,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def __init__(
 
     @overload
     def __init__(
-        self: AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata],
+        self: AsyncArrayV3,
         metadata: ArrayV3Metadata | ArrayV3MetadataDict,
         store_path: StorePath,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ async def create(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]: ...
+    ) -> AsyncArrayV2: ...
 
     # this overload defines the function signature when zarr_format is 3
     @overload
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ async def create(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]: ...
+    ) -> AsyncArrayV3: ...
 
     @overload
     @classmethod
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ async def create(
         overwrite: bool = False,
         data: npt.ArrayLike | None = None,
         config: ArrayConfigLike | None = None,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]: ...
+    ) -> AsyncArrayV3: ...
 
     @overload
     @classmethod
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ async def _create_v3(
         dimension_names: DimensionNames = None,
         attributes: dict[str, JSON] | None = None,
         overwrite: bool = False,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]:
+    ) -> AsyncArrayV3:
         if overwrite:
             if store_path.store.supports_deletes:
                 await store_path.delete_dir()
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ async def _create_v2(
         compressor: CompressorLike = "auto",
         attributes: dict[str, JSON] | None = None,
         overwrite: bool = False,
-    ) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]:
+    ) -> AsyncArrayV2:
         if overwrite:
             if store_path.store.supports_deletes:
                 await store_path.delete_dir()
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ def from_dict(
 
         Returns
         -------
-        AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] or AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]
+        AsyncArrayV3 or AsyncArrayV2
             The created Zarr array, either using Zarr format 2 or 3 metadata based on the provided data.
 
         Raises
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/group.py b/src/zarr/core/group.py
index f74836c9e8..b434d8c56e 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/group.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/group.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
     from zarr.core.chunk_key_encodings import ChunkKeyEncodingLike
     from zarr.core.common import MemoryOrder
     from zarr.core.dtype import ZDTypeLike
-    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray, ArrayV2, ArrayV3
+    from zarr.types import AnyArray, AnyAsyncArray, ArrayV2, ArrayV3, AsyncArrayV2, AsyncArrayV3
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("zarr.group")
 
@@ -112,11 +112,11 @@ def parse_attributes(data: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
 
 
 @overload
-def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]) -> ArrayV3: ...
+def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArrayV3) -> ArrayV3: ...
 
 
 @overload
-def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]) -> ArrayV2: ...
+def _parse_async_node(node: AsyncArrayV2) -> ArrayV2: ...
 
 
 @overload
@@ -3556,15 +3556,11 @@ def _build_metadata_v2(
 
 
 @overload
-def _build_node(
-    *, store: Store, path: str, metadata: ArrayV2Metadata
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]: ...
+def _build_node(*, store: Store, path: str, metadata: ArrayV2Metadata) -> AsyncArrayV2: ...
 
 
 @overload
-def _build_node(
-    *, store: Store, path: str, metadata: ArrayV3Metadata
-) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]: ...
+def _build_node(*, store: Store, path: str, metadata: ArrayV3Metadata) -> AsyncArrayV3: ...
 
 
 @overload
@@ -3587,7 +3583,7 @@ def _build_node(
             raise ValueError(f"Unexpected metadata type: {type(metadata)}")  # pragma: no cover
 
 
-async def _get_node_v2(store: Store, path: str) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+async def _get_node_v2(store: Store, path: str) -> AsyncArrayV2 | AsyncGroup:
     """
     Read a Zarr v2 AsyncArray or AsyncGroup from a path in a Store.
 
@@ -3606,7 +3602,7 @@ async def _get_node_v2(store: Store, path: str) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata] |
     return _build_node(store=store, path=path, metadata=metadata)
 
 
-async def _get_node_v3(store: Store, path: str) -> AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata] | AsyncGroup:
+async def _get_node_v3(store: Store, path: str) -> AsyncArrayV3 | AsyncGroup:
     """
     Read a Zarr v3 AsyncArray or AsyncGroup from a path in a Store.
 
diff --git a/src/zarr/types.py b/src/zarr/types.py
index 2164710f1c..38990982f9 100644
--- a/src/zarr/types.py
+++ b/src/zarr/types.py
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 AnyAsyncArray: TypeAlias = AsyncArray[Any]
 """A Zarr format 2 or 3 `AsyncArray`"""
 
+AsyncArrayV2: TypeAlias = AsyncArray[ArrayV2Metadata]
+"""A Zarr format 2 `AsyncArray`"""
+
+AsyncArrayV3: TypeAlias = AsyncArray[ArrayV3Metadata]
+"""A Zarr format 3 `AsyncArray`"""
 
 AnyArray: TypeAlias = Array[Any]
 """A Zarr format 2 or 3 `Array`"""

From a04296cebbc6e81f5b10c0936be18c259d9ea727 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: David Stansby <dstansby@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:46:29 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 5/5] Add changelog entry

---
 changes/3304.feature.rst | 2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 changes/3304.feature.rst

diff --git a/changes/3304.feature.rst b/changes/3304.feature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..45dbd85731
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/3304.feature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+The `Array` class can now also be parametrized in the same manner as the `AsyncArray` class, allowing Zarr format v2 and v3 `Array`s to be distinguished.
+New types have been added to `zarr.types` to help with this.