What are type hints and how do they work in different programming languages?

What are type hints and how do they work in different programming languages?

Type hints are annotations that specify the expected data types of variables, function parameters, and return values. They help with code readability and can assist in catching errors during development.

Can you give me examples of type hints in Python and Java?

Sure! In Python, you might see a function defined like this: def add(a: int, b: int) -> int:. In Java, you would specify types directly in the method signature, like public int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }.

Are there type hints in JavaScript?

JavaScript itself doesn't have built-in type hints, but TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript, does. You can define types using syntax like let name: string;.

What are the benefits of using type hints?

Type hints improve code clarity, enable better tooling support, and help catch type-related errors early in the development process.