The article deals with the genesis of the typological approach in sociology, Social Sciences and Humanities, among them we consider philosophy, culturology, psychology. The article shows that the typology and typological approach are applied in one way or another all sciences throughout its development. The division of aggregates of phenomena or elements into groups or types is a definite method of scientific cognition. The typology as a methodological procedure can be applied to any range of phenomena and processes, types of society, cognitions or individuals. We prove that the typology performs similar functions in all the sciences in which it is applied that emphasizes its universality and interdisciplinary. In conclusion we detail the theoretical and practical functions of the typology.