What are type guards in TypeScript?

What are type guards in TypeScript?

Type guards are a TypeScript feature that allows you to narrow down the type of a variable within a conditional block.

Can you give me an example of how to use a type guard?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

function isString(value: any): value is string {
    return typeof value === 'string';
}

const input: any = 'Hello, TypeScript!';
if (isString(input)) {
    console.log(input.toUpperCase()); // This is safe because we know input is a string.
}

What are the benefits of using type guards?

Type guards improve type safety, reduce runtime errors, and enhance code readability by making type checks explicit.

Are there different types of type guards?

Yes, there are several types of type guards: user-defined type guards, typeof checks, instanceof checks, and more.