28. Next Steps: Exploring TypeScript with React

Level: AdvancedDuration: 18m

Why Use TypeScript with React?

TypeScript helps catch bugs earlier by enforcing types during development. In React, it improves component reliability, reduces runtime errors, and makes your code easier to understand and maintain.

Setting Up React with TypeScript

bash

npm create vite@latest my-app --template react-ts

We use Vite because it’s fast, modern, and supports TypeScript out of the box.

Typing Props in Functional Components

tsx

type ButtonProps = {
  label: string;
  disabled?: boolean;
};

export default function Button({ label, disabled = false }: ButtonProps) {
  return <button disabled={disabled}>{label}</button>;
}

Optional props are marked with a question mark (?). TypeScript enforces that components receive the correct prop types.

Typing useState and useRef

tsx

const [count, setCount] = useState<number>(0);
const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);

Typing hooks ensures consistency and prevents passing invalid data into your state or refs.

Typing API Data

tsx

interface Post {
  id: number;
  title: string;
  body: string;
}

axios.get<Post[]>("/api/posts").then(response => {
  console.log(response.data);
});

Typing your data responses avoids undefined errors and improves code readability.

Concept	Example	Benefit
Props typing	type Props {}	Prevents wrong props
State typing	useState<number>	Ensures valid state
API typing	axios.get<Post[]>	Safe API responses

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