Understanding the Differences: TypeScript Types vs Interfaces

TypeScript is a programming language that is a strict syntactical superset of JavaScript. It adds optional static typing to JavaScript, which can help to improve the readability and maintainability of code.

TypeScript has two main constructs for working with types: types and interfaces.

Both types and interfaces are used to improve the readability and maintainability of code by providing specific information about the expected data structure. They also help to catch errors at compile-time rather than at runtime.

While these two concepts are closely related, they have some important differences in terms of usage and functionality.

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TypeScript Types

In TypeScript, a type is a way to specify the structure of a variable or function parameter. We can use it to define the expected data type (such as number or string) and any constraints or limitations on the value.

There are several built-in types in TypeScript, such as number, string, boolean, and any, and several more advanced types, such as union types, intersection types, and type aliases.

A type can be defined in TypeScript by using the “: ” operator. For example, the following code defines a variable “x” as a number type:

Copy codelet x: number;

A type can also be defined for function parameters. For example, the following code defines a function “add” that takes two parameters, both of type number:

Copy codefunction add(a: number, b: number): number {
    return a + b;
}

In addition to built-in types, you can also create custom types by using type alias or interfaces.

It’s worth noting that TypeScript will infer types based on the value assigned to a variable. For example, if you assign a number value to a variable, TypeScript will infer it’s a number type, but you can still explicitly set the type.

TypeScript Interfaces

In TypeScript, an interface defines a contract for the shape of an object, including the names and types of properties and methods. It can be used to ensure that a class or object adheres to a specific structure, and to provide a way to describe the structure of an object in a more abstract way. Interfaces are similar to class types, but they do not include implementation details and cannot be instantiated. They are only used to describe the shape of an object and can be implemented by classes or objects.

A class or object that implements the Person interface must have properties and methods with the same names and types as defined in the interface.

Here is an example of how you could use an interface to define the shape of a person object:

Copy codeinterface Person {
  name: string;
  age: number;
  speak(): void;
}

class RealPerson implements Person {
  name: string;
  age: number;

  constructor(name: string, age: number) {
    this.name = name;
    this.age = age;
  }

  speak() {
    console.log(`My name is ${this.name} and I am ${this.age} years old.`);
  }
}

let person: Person = new RealPerson("John", 30);
person.speak(); // Output: "My name is John and I am 30 years old."

Here the interface ‘Person’ defined the shape of the object with 3 properties ‘name’ , ‘age’ and a method ‘speak’ . The class ‘RealPerson’ implements the interface ‘Person’ which means it has to have all the properties and method defined in the interface.

By using interfaces to define the shape of an object, you can ensure that a class or object has the properties and methods that you expect, and that it can be used in a consistent way throughout your codebase.

Differences between TypeScript Types and Interfaces

Both types and interfaces in TypeScript are used to describe the shape of an object, but they have some key differences in terms of usage and functionality.

Types are used to describe the shape of a value and can include both primitives and complex types like classes and interfaces. They can be used to specify the type of a variable, parameter, or return value. Types can also be used to create new types using type aliases and intersection, union, and tuple types.

Interfaces, on the other hand, are specifically used to describe the shape of an object. They can include properties and methods and can be used to specify the structure of a class or object. A class or object that implements an interface must have all the properties and methods specified in the interface.

Another key difference is that types can’t be extended or implemented by other types, while interfaces can be extended by other interfaces and implemented by classes.

Uses of TypeScript Types

In TypeScript, it’s generally recommended to use types when describing the shape of a value and interfaces when describing the shape of an object.

Here are some scenarios where it would be appropriate to use types:

• When describing the type of a variable, parameter, or return value.
• When creating a type alias to give a more descriptive name to a complex type.
• When creating intersection, union, or tuple types to describe more complex relationships between types.
• When creating a type that describes the shape of an object, but that object is not used as a class or interface in the codebase.

Uses of TypeScript Types

Here are some scenarios where it would be appropriate to use interfaces:

• When describing the structure of a class or object that will be used in the codebase.
• When describing an object that will be used as a parameter or return value in multiple places throughout the codebase.
• When describing an object that will be used to define a contract that multiple classes or objects will adhere to.
• When describing an object that will be used as a base type or parent class that other classes or objects will extend or implement.

It’s also worth noting that types and interfaces can be used together. For example, you could use an interface to describe the structure of a class and use types to describe the types of properties and methods within that class.

Conclusion

Using types and interfaces in TypeScript development is crucial for creating robust, maintainable code.

Together, types and interfaces provide a powerful way to describe the shape of your code and to ensure that it is used consistently and correctly throughout the codebase. This can lead to a more efficient development process, fewer bugs, and more maintainable code.