The TypeScript tutorial encompasses both basic and advanced principles of TypeScript. Our TypeScript Tutorial is designed to meet the needs of beginners as well as seasoned experts.
TypeScript is an open-source, object-oriented programming language developed and maintained by Microsoft, under the Apache 2 license. It was introduced by Anders Hejlsberg, a prominent member of the C# language development team.
TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript, incorporates strong typing and compiles down to standard JavaScript. It is designed for the development of extensive JavaScript applications, functioning seamlessly across various browsers, hosts, and operating systems. TypeScript cannot be directly run in a browser; it necessitates a compiler to convert it into a JavaScript file. Fundamentally, TypeScript embodies the ES6 iteration of JavaScript, augmented with a number of extra features.
TypeScript Code
console.log("Hello, World!");
What is TypeScript?
TypeScript is a freely available, entirely object-oriented programming language. It functions as a strongly typed superset of JavaScript, which compiles into standard JavaScript. It incorporates all elements of JavaScript. This language is designed for creating large-scale JavaScript applications that are compatible with any web browser, host, and operating system. TypeScript includes both a programming language and a suite of tools. It embodies an ES6 variant of JavaScript, augmented with numerous extra features.
TypeScript is not executable directly in a browser setting. It necessitates a compiler to convert the TypeScript file into a JavaScript file, which is then runnable in the browser. TypeScript source files have a ".ts" suffix. Any valid ".js" file can be utilized by merely changing its extension to ".ts". The TypeScript Compiler, referred to as TSC, handles the transformation of TypeScript code (files with the .ts extension) into JavaScript (files with the .js extension).
Features of TypeScript
A variety of elements make TypeScript a more advantageous choice than JavaScript for modern web development:
- Static Typing: The structure of static typing one of the biggest advantages of TypeScript as it picks errors during development, as opposed to runtime error in JavaScript. This helps to spend lesser time in debugging and writing better quality codes.
- Enhanced Code Maintainability: Handling JavaScript code in large-scale projects is difficult. The type annotations and interfaces and all the features of strong typing available in TypeScript make it easier to read and easier to maintain code. This becomes particularly handy for teams building enterprise-grade applications.
- Better Tooling & Autocompletion: TypeScript provides great tooling support in modern IDEs, such as Visual Studio Code, WebStorm and Atom. Faster coding and fewer errors Autocompletion, inline documentation and real-time error detection features help developers code faster with less error.
- Improved Readability & Scalability: JavaScript code starts becoming quite complex as the project grows. TypeScript is more structured with classes, interfaces and modules. These are the great features which come with it and that is why it is the choicest option for large scale applications.
- Support for Latest JavaScript Features : TypeScript is a solid language that turns new JavaScript to old run times. This enables developers to utilize ES6 features while still being compatible with older browsers. Features such as async/await, decorators and modules are made available to you with TypeScript.
Why use TypeScript?
We use TypeScript because of the following benefits.
- TypeScript supports static typing, strongly typed, modules, optional parameters, etc.
- TypeScript supports object-oriented programming features such as classes, interfaces, inheritance, generics, etc.
- TypeScript is fast, simple, and most importantly, easy to learn.
- TypeScript provides the error-checking feature at compilation time. It will compile the code, and if any error found, then it highlighted the mistakes before the script is run.
- TypeScript supports all JavaScript libraries because it is the superset of JavaScript.
- TypeScript support reusability because of the inheritance.
- TypeScript make app development quick and easy as possible, and the tooling support of TypeScript gives us autocompletion, type checking, and source documentation.
- TypeScript has a definition file with .d.ts extension to provide a definition for external JavaScript libraries.
- TypeScript supports the latest JavaScript features, including ECMAScript 2015.
- TypeScript gives all the benefits of ES6 plus more productivity.
- Developers can save a lot of time with TypeScript.
Applications of TypeScript
TypeScript is widely utilized across various industries, including:
- Web Development: TypeScript is widely used in modern web development. The Angular, React and Vue frameworks also support TypeScript which enables us to build bigger web applications. Type safety, better debugging, and modularity help developers build front-end and back-end applications with more robustness.
- Game Development: TypeScript is used to create browser-based and WebGL-powered games using JS and Phaser. TypeScript still has strong typing and a modular approach that makes game development much more organized and maintainable. Game development frameworks such as Babylon is created using TypeScript.
- Enterprise Applications: Applications that need to be maintained for a long time such as applications for finance, healthcare, etc. rely on TypeScript for its type safety and maintainability. Bloomberg and Slack are some large enterprise applications that trust TypeScript for their complex implementations.
- Mobile App Development: TypeScript is used in many of the mobile frameworks such as React Native and NativeScript to build cross-platform mobile apps. Since it is a strongly typed language, it runs with fewer runtime mistakes thus making development a pleasure.
- Server-Side Development: TypeScript is becoming a popular choice with Node.js for creating extensive server-side applications. TypeScript is supported by JS frameworks which helps in developing the API in an efficient and error-free manner. Express.js, NextJs and other frameworks uses TypeScript.
How to Learn TypeScript?
Initially, it is crucial to attain a firm understanding of JavaScript before delving into TypeScript, since TypeScript is essentially an augmented variant of JavaScript that incorporates extra functionalities aimed at helping developers create improved code for modern web applications. Although one can learn TypeScript without an existing foundation in JavaScript, possessing that knowledge will certainly prove advantageous.
If you have a background in JavaScript, transitioning to TypeScript will be relatively easy. Nevertheless, the question persists: what is the best way to learn it? A wealth of online materials and documentation is available to support your TypeScript learning journey. Start by examining the official TypeScript documentation to understand its syntax and functionalities. Participate in practical exercises, and with dedication, you can attain fluency in this language.
Text Editors with TypeScript Support
The TypeScript was initially supported only in Microsoft's Visual Studio platform. But today, there are a lot of text editors and IDEs available which either natively or through plugins have support for the TypeScript programming. Some of them are given below.
- Visual Studio Code
- Official Free Plugin for Sublime Text.
- The latest version of WebStorm
- It also supports in Vim, Atom, Emacs, and others.