TypeScript Array Type

Summary: in this tutorial, you’ll learn about the TypeScript array type and its basic operations.

Introduction to TypeScript array type #

A TypeScript array is an ordered list of data. To declare an array that holds values of a specific type, you use the following syntax:

let arrayName: type[];

For example, the following declares an array of strings:

let skills: string[] = [];

And you can add one or more strings to the array:

skills[0] = "Problem Solving";
skills[1] = "Programming";

or use the push() method:

skills.push('Software Design');

The following declares a variable and assigns an array of strings to it:

let skills = ['Problem Sovling','Software Design','Programming'];

In this example, TypeScript infers the skills array as an array of strings. It is equivalent to the following:

let skills: string[];
skills = ['Problem Sovling','Software Design','Programming'];

After you define an array of a specific type, TypeScript will prevent you from adding incompatible values. For example, the following will cause an error:

skills.push(100);

… because we’re trying to add a number to the string array.

Error:

Argument of type 'number' is not assignable to parameter of type 'string'.

When you extract an element from the array, TypeScript infers the type of the array element. For example:

let skill = skills[0];
console.log(typeof(skill));

Output:

string

In this example, we extract the first element of the skills array and assign it to the skill variable.

Since an element in a string array is a string, TypeScript infers the type of the skill variable to string as shown in the output.

TypeScript array properties and methods #

TypeScript arrays have the same properties and methods as JavaScript arrays. For example, the following uses the length property to get the number of elements in an array:

let series = [1, 2, 3];
console.log(series.length); // 3

You can use all the useful array methods such as forEach(), map(), reduce(), and filter(). For example:

let series = [1, 2, 3];
let doubleIt = series.map(e => e* 2);
console.log(doubleIt);

Output:

[ 2, 4, 6 ]

Storing values of mixed types #

The following illustrates how to define an array that holds both strings and numbers:

let scores = ['Programming', 5, 'Software Design', 4];

In this case, TypeScript infers the scores array as an array of string | number. It’s equivalent to the following:

let scores : (string | number)[];
scores = ['Programming', 5, 'Software Design', 4];

Summary #

In TypeScript, an array is an ordered list of values.
Use the let arr: type[] syntax to declare an array of a specific type. Adding a value of a different type to the array will result in an error.
An array can store values of mixed types. Use the arr: (type1 | type2) [] syntax to declare an array of values with mixed types (type1, and type2)

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