What Is TypeScript, and Why Use It Over JavaScript?

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript, offering optional static typing, classes, and interfaces. This provides several advantages, including:

1. Enhanced IDE Support

TypeScript's static typing enables IDEs to provide a richer development environment, detecting potential errors while coding.

2. More Robust Code for Large Projects

For JavaScript projects of significant size, TypeScript enables the creation of more robust software.

3. Deployment Compatibility

TypeScript code can be deployed in any environment where regular JavaScript applications can run.

4. Open Source with Supported IDEs

TypeScript is open source, with Intellisense support available through supported IDEs, initially including Microsoft's Visual Studio and now extending to others.

Comparison with CoffeeScript and Dart

CoffeeScript focuses on readability for humans, while TypeScript provides in-depth readability for tools through optional static typing.
Dart is a complete JavaScript replacement, while TypeScript is a superset.

Example

Here is an example of TypeScript code (playground available at TypeScript Playground):

class Greeter {

greeting: string;
constructor (message: string) {
    this.greeting = message;
}
greet() {
    return "Hello, " + this.greeting;
}

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}

This translates to the following JavaScript:

var Greeter = (function () {

function Greeter(message) {
    this.greeting = message;
}
Greeter.prototype.greet = function () {
    return "Hello, " + this.greeting;
};
return Greeter;

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})();

Note how TypeScript defines member variable and class method parameter types, which are inferred when not explicitly declared (e.g., the return type of the greet() method).

Debugging

Sourcemaps allow direct debugging support in many browsers and IDEs.

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