Guide to TypeScript Programming Language

Online Certification in Applied Data Science, Machine Learning and Edge AI By E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati 6 months

Guide to TypeScript Programming Language – Complete Tutorial

Written By The IoT Academy
Published on August 14th, 2024

TypeScript is a programming language made by Microsoft to improve JavaScript by adding static typing. It includes all JavaScript features and adds new ones. Its optional type annotations and static type checking help catch errors during development. As well as it works well with popular JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue.js. So, this guide explains how typescript programming language is used for backend development with Node.js. Its compatibility with existing JavaScript code and support for modern features make it a powerful tool for developers.

What is TypeScript Programming Language?

TypeScript is a statically typed superset of JavaScript developed by Microsoft. It introduces optional type annotations and static type checking to the JavaScript ecosystem to enhance code quality and maintainability. While JavaScript remains a popular choice for web development, Typescript programming language offers additional features that help manage larger codebases and complex applications.

Components of TypeScript

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that adds static types and other features to help developers build robust, scalable applications. The core TypeScript components include:

Interfaces: Define the shape of objects, specifying what properties and methods an object should have. Also, consider it a contract for how objects should be structured.

Classes: Improve JavaScript classes with type information and access control (like public, private, and protected). Typescript programming language supports advanced features like inheritance and encapsulation.

Modules: Organize code into separate files and reuse code with import and export. Helps manage code dependencies and structure.

Generics: This allows you to create flexible and reusable code components (functions or classes) that work with different data types while keeping type safety.

Type Inference: TypeScript guesses the type of variables and functions automatically based on how they are used. As well as reduce the need for explicit type declarations.

Decorators: Special annotations that modify or add features to classes, methods, or properties. Often used in frameworks for extra functionality.

Type Checking: TypeScript checks for type errors during development, catching issues before running the code. This helps prevent runtime errors.

Configuration File (tsconfig.json): A file where you set up how TypeScript should compile your code. You can define settings like which version of JavaScript to use and how strict the type checking should be.

Tooling: Typescript programming language works well with various development tools and editors (like Visual Studio Code), offering features like code completion, refactoring, and inline help to make coding easier.

Type System

Basic Types: Types like number, string, boolean, null, undefined, and symbol.

Complex Types: Includes arrays (lists), tuples (fixed-size lists), enums (named constants), and objects.

Custom Types: Custom structures you define using interfaces, type aliases, and classes.

What is TypeScript Programming Language Used For?

TypeScript makes JavaScript better by adding static typing, which helps catch mistakes early and makes the code more reliable. It’s especially useful for big and complex projects. In web development, TypeScript works well with frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue.js. It is also making the code more organized and easier to manage.

TypeScript is also used for backend development with Node.js, which helps with server-side coding. It supports modern JavaScript features and works well with existing JavaScript code. As well as TypeScript is also used to build desktop applications with frameworks like Electron. Overall, TypeScript helps developers create strong, maintainable, and scalable applications in many different areas.

Some Common Use of TypeScript

Type Safety: Prevents type-related errors by enforcing type definitions.

Enhanced IDE Support: Improves autocompletion, navigation, and refactoring capabilities.

Scalability: Facilitates managing large codebases with modular and maintainable code.

Improved Documentation: Type annotations serve as in-code documentation.

Early Error Detection: Catches potential errors at compile time rather than runtime.

Interoperability: Works seamlessly with existing JavaScript code and libraries.

Object-Oriented Features: Supports classes, interfaces, and other OOP concepts.

Community Support: Backed by a large community and Microsoft, with regular updates.

Tooling Compatibility: Integrates well with popular build tools and frameworks like Angular.

Optional Typing: Allows gradual adoption by letting you opt-in to typing as needed.

Step-by-Step TypeScript Tutorial for Beginners

Installing TypeScript

To start using the Typescript programming language, you need to install it. You can install TypeScript globally using npm (Node Package Manager):

npm install -g typescript

After installation, you can check the version to confirm it’s installed correctly:

tsc –version

Setting Up a TypeScript Project

Initialize a New Project: Create a new directory for your project and navigate into it.

mkdir my-typescript-project

cd my-typescript-project

Create a tsconfig.json File: This file configures the TypeScript compiler options. Generate a basic configuration file with:

tsc –init

This creates a tsconfig.json file with default settings. You can customize this file based on your project needs.

Basic TypeScript Syntax

Variables and Types

Typescript programming language provides various types including number, string, boolean, array, tuple, enum, any, void, and null.

let name: string = ‘Alice’;

let age: number = 25;

let isStudent: boolean = true;

let hobbies: string[] = [‘Reading’, ‘Traveling’];

let coordinates: [number, number] = [10, 20];

Functions

TypeScript allows you to specify types for function parameters and return values.

function greet(name: string): string {

return Hello, ${name};

}

let message: string = greet(‘Bob’);

Interfaces

Interfaces define the structure of objects and can be used to ensure that objects adhere to a specific shape.

interface Person {

name: string;

age: number;

}

function introduce(person: Person): string {

return Name: ${person.name}, Age: ${person.age};

}

let person: Person = { name: ‘Charlie’, age: 30 };

console.log(introduce(person));

Classes

Typescript programming language enhances JavaScript classes with type annotations and access modifiers (public, private, protected).

class Car {

private brand: string;

public model: string;

constructor(brand: string, model: string) {

this.brand = brand;

this.model = model;

}

public displayInfo(): string {

return Brand: ${this.brand}, Model: ${this.model};

}

let myCar = new Car(‘Toyota’, ‘Corolla’);

console.log(myCar.displayInfo());

Working with TypeScript

Compiling TypeScript

TypeScript code needs to be compiled into JavaScript before running in a browser or Node.js environment. Use the tsc command to compile your .ts files:

tsc filename.ts

This command will generate a .js file with the same name as your TypeScript file.

Using TypeScript with Build Tools

For larger projects, the Typescript programming language is often used with build tools like Webpack or Rollup. These tools help in bundling and optimizing TypeScript code along with other assets.

Advantages of TypeScript

TypeScript, a tool created by Microsoft, builds on JavaScript and offers many benefits, especially for large projects. Here are the main advantages:

1. Static Typing

Error Detection: TypeScript checks for errors before you run your code, helping to catch mistakes early.
Code Quality: It makes your code clearer and easier to understand by using types.

2. Better IDE Support

IntelliSense: TypeScript improves code editors with features like auto-completion and easy navigation, making coding faster.
Refactoring: It offers strong tools for safely and easily changing your code.

3. Improved Code Maintenance

Readability: TypeScript’s clear type annotations make code easier to read and understand.
Scalability: It is great for managing large codebases and helps teams work together more effectively.

4. Advanced Features

Interfaces and Type Aliases: These allow you to define complex types and ensure your code is robust and easy to maintain.
Decorators and Generics: These features of the Typescript programming language provide powerful tools for creating reusable code.

5. Compatibility with JavaScript

Incremental Adoption: You can slowly introduce TypeScript into existing JavaScript projects, making the transition smooth.
JavaScript Libraries: TypeScript works well with JavaScript libraries, and you can often find type definitions for popular ones.

By addressing JavaScript’s weaknesses and adding powerful features, TypeScript helps developers create reliable, maintainable, and scalable code.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Typescript is great for improving JavaScript. By adding static typing and other features, making the code better and easier to maintain. It is very useful for big projects. Also commonly used with frameworks like Angular, React, and Node.js. Typescript programming language’s strong typing, better tools, and advanced features help developers create reliable, scalable, and maintainable applications. Whether you are new or experienced, using TypeScript can make you more productive and your code more dependable. It works well with modern JavaScript and existing code, making it a flexible choice for front-end and back-end projects. Overall, TypeScript offers many benefits for all kinds of development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Is TypeScript frontend or backend?

Ans. TypeScript is flexible and works for both frontend and backend development. It is often used on the front end with frameworks like Angular and React. It can be used with Node.js to create server-side applications.

Q. Is TypeScript better than JavaScript?

Ans. TypeScript has extra features like static type checking and better tools, which can make code better and developers more productive. Whether it is better than JavaScript depends on the project’s needs. For big and complex applications, TypeScript’s benefits might be worth the effort to learn it.

Q. Which is better Python or TypeScript?

Ans. Python and TypeScript are good for different things. Python is simple and versatile, great for data science and machine learning. TypeScript is made to improve JavaScript, especially for web and app development. Choose Python or TypeScript based on what your project needs and what you prefer to work with.

About The Author:

The IoT Academy

The IoT Academy as a reputed ed-tech training institute is imparting online / Offline training in emerging technologies such as Data Science, Machine Learning, IoT, Deep Learning, and more. We believe in making revolutionary attempt in changing the course of making online education accessible and dynamic.