They exhibit distinct behaviors due to the different primary use cases for the !
and Boolean()
operators. TypeScript lacks cognitive abilities and cannot inherently recognize that expressions like !!x
and Boolean(x)
have equivalent functionality unless explicitly instructed to do so within the compiler. This feature has not been prioritized as high enough to warrant implementation.
For more information, refer to microsoft/TypeScript#16655. The usage of Boolean
for truthiness checks in TypeScript is limited since it was not originally designed for this purpose; attempts were made to introduce such a mechanism in microsoft/TypeScript#29955, but it was subsequently reversed due to compatibility issues with other critical features.
The primary function of the logical NOT operator !
is to negate a condition. Consider the following example:
function foo(x: number[] | string) {
if (!Array.isArray(x)) {
console.log(x.toUpperCase());
}
}
This function compiles without errors because TypeScript utilizes control flow analysis to determine that !Array.isArray(x)
evaluates to true only when x
is not an array (meaning it must be a string in this context).
To enable this behavior, TypeScript closely tracks the actions of the !
operator, understanding that !true
yields false
and !false
results in true
. This requires consideration of the literal types involved in these operations.
In contrast, the Boolean
constructor does not operate as an operator, allowing its behavior to remain flexible. It is defined in the TypeScript standard library as shown in the source code. When calling Boolean(x)
, the designated call signature always produces a boolean value regardless of the input type.
While efforts were made to transition this into a type guard function, complications arose, prompting caution against unnecessary complexity. Introducing custom call signatures can lead to unforeseen consequences and may not justify the potential benefits. In many cases, utilizing !!
remains a simpler alternative.
Explore the Playground link for experimental code samples.