TypeScript theorytheory 0/50 · 0%
Types · easy

2. Basic types

number, string, boolean, and the any escape hatch.

The primitive types mirror JavaScript's runtime primitives: `number` for all numeric values (there's no separate int/float), `string`, `boolean`, `null`, and `undefined`.

Annotations follow a colon after the identifier. TypeScript can often infer them, so annotate when it improves clarity or when there's no initializer to infer from.

ts
let blockNumber: number = 18_000_000;
let network: string = "mainnet";
let isTestnet: boolean = false;
let owner: string | undefined;

`any` disables type checking for a value entirely — useful for gradual migration, but it defeats the purpose of TypeScript if overused. Prefer `unknown` when you must accept an untyped value but still want safety.

Check your understanding

  1. 1. How many numeric types does TypeScript have for ordinary numbers?

  2. 2. What does annotating a variable with `any` do?

  3. 3. Which type is generally safer than `any` for unknown values?