diff --git a/stix2/utils.py b/stix2/utils.py
index f23dbe2..960b89e 100644
--- a/stix2/utils.py
+++ b/stix2/utils.py
@@ -255,3 +255,6 @@ def get_class_hierarchy_names(obj):
     for cls in obj.__class__.__mro__:
         names.append(cls.__name__)
     return names
+
+def get_type_from_id(stix_id):
+    return stix_id.split('--', 1)[0]