Getting Started with TypeScript

Why TypeScript?

TypeScript adds static types to JavaScript, catching bugs at compile time instead of runtime. After the initial learning curve, it dramatically reduces production incidents.

Your First Types

Start by annotating function parameters and return values. The compiler infers most local variable types automatically.

Interfaces vs Type Aliases

Both define shapes; interfaces are open (can be merged later), type aliases can represent unions. Prefer interfaces for object shapes and types for unions/intersections.

interface User {  id: string;  email: string;  role: 'user' | 'creator' | 'admin';} function greet(user: User): string {  return `Hello, ${user.email}`;}

Next Steps

Once you are comfortable with basic types, explore generics, utility types (Partial, Pick, Omit), and declaration files for third-party libraries.