A Comprehensive Guide to TypeScript Types

Types in TypeScript

TypeScript is a powerful, typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. It offers developers a way to write less code and be more efficient by catching errors before they happen as well as providing additional type safety. With its strict typing system, TypeScript provides developers with several types such as interface, classes, enums, and functions. In this article, let’s discuss the different types in TypeScript.

Primitive Types

The primitive types are the basic types that are available in TypeScript. These include Boolean, Number, String, Void, Null, and Undefined. These take up very little memory as they can only store basic values.

Object Types

Object types are used to define complex data types. Some of the object types available in TypeScript are Arrays, Tuples, Classes, Interfaces, Enums, and Functions. Arrays are used to store multiple values of the same type in the same place, tuples group together values of different types in one place, classes provide structure and encapsulation for objects, interfaces allow us to specify contracts for classes, enums are used to create a set of constants, and functions are used to define behavior.

Union Types

Union types are used for variables that can have multiple types at the same time. This is specified by separating the different possible types with a pipe (|). Union types can contain any combination of the primitive and object types in TypeScript.

Type Aliases

Type aliases are used to give names to types. This allows developers to give meaningful names to complex types instead of writing out the whole type again. For example, you could use a type alias such as “Name” instead of writing out “string | number | boolean” every time you need to refer to that type.

Conclusion

TypeScript offers developers several types to help them be more efficient and ensure their code is safe. Primitive types are basic types that take up very little memory, and object types are used to define complex data types. Union types and type aliases are used for variables that can have multiple types, and type aliases are used to give names to complex types.