TypeScript is a powerful tool that can help you write better code. But as with any tool, it's important to use it correctly. Here are 8 TypeScript comments best practices to help you get the most out of this tool.
TypeScript is a powerful language that allows developers to write code that is both type-safe and maintainable. However, writing code that is both type-safe and maintainable can be difficult, especially when working with large codebases. One of the best ways to ensure that your code is both type-safe and maintainable is to use comments.
Comments are an important part of any codebase, and TypeScript is no exception. In this article, we will discuss 8 best practices for using comments in TypeScript. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your code is both type-safe and maintainable.
When you use /** */ for multiline comments, it makes the code easier to read and understand. It also allows you to add more detailed information about a particular section of code, which can be helpful when debugging or making changes in the future. Additionally, using this syntax helps keep your code organized and consistent with other developers who may be working on the same project.
This type of comment is used to reference other TypeScript files in the same project. While this can be useful for organizing code, it also adds unnecessary complexity and makes your code harder to read. It’s better to use import statements instead, as they are more concise and easier to understand. Additionally, using imports allows you to take advantage of TypeScript’s static typing system, which helps catch errors before runtime.
When TypeScript compiles your code, it will throw an error if it finds any type errors. This can be annoying when you’re trying to debug a problem and the compiler is pointing out something that isn’t actually wrong. By adding // @ts-ignore before the line of code in question, you can tell the compiler to ignore that line and move on.
This is especially useful for debugging complex problems where you need to temporarily disable certain lines of code while you figure out what’s going on. It also helps keep your code clean by avoiding unnecessary comments that explain why you disabled a particular line.
When writing TypeScript code, the compiler will perform semantic checks to ensure that your code is valid and follows best practices. However, sometimes you may want to disable these checks for certain sections of code. This can be done by adding // @ts-nocheck at the beginning of a section of code. This will tell the compiler to skip any semantic checks in that section.
Using this comment is especially useful when dealing with third-party libraries or legacy code that doesn’t follow TypeScript’s standards. It allows you to keep the code without having to rewrite it to meet the standards.
// @ts-check enables the TypeScript compiler to perform semantic checks on your code. This means that it will check for things like type compatibility, variable declarations, and other potential errors before you even run your program. This can help catch bugs early in the development process, saving you time and effort down the line.
Using // @ts-check also helps make sure that your comments are up to date with any changes made to the codebase. If a comment is out of sync with the code, the compiler will throw an error so you know to update it. This ensures that your comments remain accurate and helpful for anyone reading them.
When writing code, it’s important to document any expected errors that may occur. This helps other developers understand why a certain piece of code is written the way it is and what they should expect when running it. By using // @ts-expect-error, you can easily indicate which errors are expected and which ones aren’t.
This also makes debugging easier since you know exactly where to look for potential issues. Additionally, this practice encourages better coding practices by making sure all errors are documented and accounted for.
When writing tests, it’s common to use code that TypeScript doesn’t recognize as valid. For example, you might be testing a function that takes an argument of type string but pass in a number instead. In this case, the test will fail because TypeScript won’t allow it.
Using // @ts-ignore and // @ts-expect-error allows you to bypass these errors and still run your tests. This is especially useful when you’re trying to test edge cases or unexpected behavior. It also helps keep your tests clean and organized by avoiding unnecessary compiler warnings.
When writing code, it’s important to follow coding conventions and best practices. This is where linter rules come in handy. They help ensure that your code follows the standards set by the language or framework you’re using. However, there may be times when you need to break a rule for some reason. In these cases, you can use // tslint:disable-next-line to disable the linter rule on the line of code following the comment. This allows you to keep your code compliant with the rest of the project while still allowing you to make an exception for specific lines of code.