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Discussion on: We don't have to use Enums on TypeScript? 【Discussion】

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Replies for: Thanks @peerreynders ! This is cool. However, I probably go with Union types in this case since it saves some lines of codes and has more readabi...

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peerreynders profile image
peerreynders • • Edited

We start with

const bigTechz = {
  Google: 'Google',
  Apple: 'Apple',
  Amazon: 'Amazon',
  Facebook: 'Facebook',
} as const;
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Then 2021-10-28

const bigTechz = {
  Google: 'Google',
  Apple: 'Apple',
  Amazon: 'Amazon',
  Facebook: 'Meta',
} as const;
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No need to change bigTechz.Facebook anywhere in your code and more importantly in code you don't control (but that uses your code).

With

type BigTechz = "Google" | "Apple" | "Amazon" | "Facebook";
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the literal values are used in the source code itself. So

  • either update all occurrences of "Facebook" in the source code; impossible if it is used in code you don't control.
  • or just leave it as is and hope nobody complains that it should be "Meta", not "Facebook".

Trade-offs ...

Added bonus: iterability

const allBigTechz = Object.values(bigTechz);

// Using type predicates
// https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/2/narrowing.html#using-type-predicates
//
function isBigTechz(name: string): name is BigTechz {
  return (allBigTechz as string[]).includes(name);
}

const myFav = bigTechz.Apple;
console.log(isBigTechz(myFav)); // true
console.log(isBigTechz('Walmart')); // false

const formatter = new Intl.ListFormat('en', {
  style: 'long',
  type: 'conjunction',
});
console.log(`The BigTechz: ${formatter.format(allBigTechz)}`); 
// "The BigTechz: Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta"
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taishi profile image
Taishi •

Thanks @peerreynders !

No need to change bigTechz.Facebook anywhere in your code and more importantly in code you don't control (but that uses your code).

Good point!
iterability can be a big plus.
Now your method is starting to look handy! Thank you!