Typeof Type Operator

The typeof type operator

JavaScript already has a typeof operator you can use in an expression context:

// Prints "string"
console.log(typeof "Hello world");

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TypeScript adds a typeof operator you can use in a type context to refer to the type of a variable or property:

let s = "hello";
let n: typeof s;

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This isn't very useful for basic types, but combined with other type operators, you can use typeof to conveniently express many patterns. For an example, let's start by looking at the predefined type ReturnType<T>. It takes a function type and produces its return type:

type Predicate = (x: unknown) => boolean;
type K = ReturnType<Predicate>;

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If we try to use ReturnType on a function name, we see an instructive error:

function f() {
  return { x: 10, y: 3 };
}
type P = ReturnType<f>;
'f' refers to a value, but is being used as a type here. Did you mean 'typeof f'?

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Remember that values and types aren't the same thing. To refer to the type that the value f has, we use typeof:

function f() {
  return { x: 10, y: 3 };
}
type P = ReturnType<typeof f>;

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Limitations

TypeScript intentionally limits the sorts of expressions you can use typeof on.

Specifically, it's only legal to use typeof on identifiers (i.e. variable names) or their properties. This helps avoid the confusing trap of writing code you think is executing, but isn't:

// Meant to use = ReturnType<typeof msgbox>
let shouldContinue: typeof msgbox("Are you sure you want to continue?");
',' expected.

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