What TypeScript means
Developed by Microsoft, TypeScript is widely used in modern frameworks like Next.js. It makes larger codebases easier to maintain.
Why it matters for your website
TypeScript catches many coding mistakes before a site goes live, which means fewer broken forms and bugs reaching customers. It also makes code easier for future developers to understand, which can lower the cost of changes over time.
Example
On a hypothetical booking site, TypeScript flags that a function expects a date but is getting plain text, so the bug is fixed before launch.
Tips
- Ask developers whether your project uses TypeScript and why.
- Turn on strict mode in new projects to catch more issues early.
- Use shared types for data like forms and products across the site.
Common mistakes
- Marking everything as the any type, which removes most of the benefit.
- Assuming type checks replace real testing of how the site behaves.
Questions about TypeScript
What is TypeScript?
JavaScript with added types, which catch many errors before code runs.
Is TypeScript better than JavaScript?
It is not better for every job, but it helps on larger or long-lived projects by catching errors early. Small scripts may not need it.
Do browsers run TypeScript?
Browsers run JavaScript, so TypeScript is converted to JavaScript during the build. Visitors never see the difference.
