Can you please explain the meaning of this particular type annotation?

Consider the code snippet below:

    private getJsonBody(body: {}|FormData) {
        return !(body instanceof FormData) ? JSON.stringify(body) : body;
    }

What is the significance of the curly braces enclosing a type declaration in the parameter? I encountered issues compiling it in my current setup and had to switch it to any for it to function.

Answer №1

Describing an Empty Object Type.

This type represents an object with no members of its own. TypeScript will throw a compile-time error if you attempt to access arbitrary properties on such an object:

// Type {}
const obj = {};

// Error: Property 'prop' does not exist on type '{}'.
obj.prop = "value";

Despite this limitation, you can still utilize all properties and methods defined on the Object type, which are accessible via JavaScript's prototype chain:

// Type {}
const obj = {};

// "[object Object]"
obj.toString();
  • Referenced from:

An insightful read on Basarat's Lazy Object Initialization, explaining how Typescript handles this scenario and offering solutions.

To adjust your code accordingly, follow this example:

interface Foo {
  bar: string;
  baz: number;
}

private getJsonBody(body: {} as Foo | FormData) {
  return !(body instanceof FormData)
    ? JSON.stringify(body)
    : body;
}

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