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TypeScript Interfaces vs Type Aliases

In TypeScript, both interfaces and type aliases provide ways to define custom types. While they share similarities, understanding their differences is crucial for effective TypeScript development.

Interfaces

Interfaces in TypeScript define the structure of objects. They are primarily used for describing the shape of data and can be extended or implemented by classes.

interface Person {
  name: string;
  age: number;
}

const john: Person = { name: "John", age: 30 };

Type Aliases

Type aliases create new names for types. They can represent not just object types, but also primitives, unions, tuples, and other complex types.

type Point = {
  x: number;
  y: number;
};

type ID = string | number;

const point: Point = { x: 10, y: 20 };
const id: ID = "abc123";

Key Differences

  • Declaration Merging: Interfaces support declaration merging, while type aliases do not.
  • Extends and Implements: Interfaces can be extended or implemented by classes, which is not possible with type aliases.
  • Primitive Types: Type aliases can directly represent primitive types, unions, and tuples, which interfaces cannot.
  • Computed Properties: Type aliases can use computed properties, while interfaces cannot.

When to Use Interfaces

Use interfaces when:

  • Defining object shapes that might be extended later
  • Working with classes that need to implement a contract
  • You want to take advantage of declaration merging

When to Use Type Aliases

Use type aliases when:

  • Creating complex types involving unions, intersections, or tuples
  • Defining function types
  • You need to use computed properties

Best Practices

When working with interfaces and type aliases, consider these best practices:

  • Use interfaces for public APIs as they are more extendable
  • Prefer type aliases for complex types or when you need union or intersection types
  • Be consistent in your codebase to improve readability
  • Use type inference when possible to reduce verbosity

Conclusion

Both interfaces and type aliases are powerful features in TypeScript. Understanding their strengths and use cases will help you write more maintainable and expressive code. For more advanced type manipulations, explore conditional types and mapped types.