Problem encountered when utilizing distributive conditional types in conjunction with a generic function

I've been working on creating a versatile function that takes an object T and a string property name of that object T.

To guide me, I referred to https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/advanced-types.html under the section: Distributive conditional types.

I managed to come up with a solution that functions without generics. However, when I attempt to switch the explicit types to a generic type, TypeScript fails to compile.

Here is the non-generic version that currently works:

export type TypedPropertyNames<T, P> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends P ? K : never }[keyof T];
export type StringPropertyNames<T> = TypedPropertyNames<T, string>;

interface Test {
  test: string;
}
 
function non_generic(form: Test, field: StringPropertyNames<Test>): string {
  return form[field];
}

This implementation works flawlessly.

However, as soon as I transform the Test interface into a generic argument, the compilation fails.

export type TypedPropertyNames<T, P> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends P ? K : never }[keyof T];
export type StringPropertyNames<T> = TypedPropertyNames<T, string>;

function generic<T>(form: T, field: StringPropertyNames<T>): string {
  return form[field]; // This causes a compile error
}

Is this behavior expected or could it potentially be a TypeScript bug? Any guidance on how to make the generic version work smoothly (without any workarounds) would be greatly appreciated.

Update 1:

Compilation error logged:

Type 'T[{ [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends string ? K : never; }[keyof T]]' is not assignable to type 'string'.

Refer to this Playground link

Answer №1

When dealing with unresolved conditional types in TypeScript, the compiler faces limitations in determining assignability. This occurs when one or both types within a conditional statement cannot be evaluated due to incomplete specifications.

While this may seem like a design limitation rather than a bug, it's important to remember that compilers lack the human touch and intuition. Despite potential for improvement through heuristic algorithms, any enhancements must prioritize speed without compromising compile times under normal circumstances.

Seeking advice on achieving generic functionality without resorting to workarounds.

The approach to solving this challenge varies depending on how you define a "hack." A straightforward way to address it is by utilizing type assertions, explicitly acknowledging instances where the code is logically sound but requires manual intervention to assure TypeScript:

function generic<T>(form: T, field: StringPropertyNames<T>): string {
  return form[field] as any as string;  // Outsmarting the compiler 🤓
}

An alternative method involves guiding the compiler towards grasping the safety of your code. For instance, by introducing constraints like

T extends Record<StringPropertyNames<T>, string>
, you can enhance the compiler's understanding and achieve desired outcomes:

function generic<T extends Record<StringPropertyNames<T>, string>>(
  form: T,
  field: StringPropertyNames<T>
): string {
  return form[field]; // Success!
}

By implementing such strategies, you can ensure compiler compliance and seamlessly incorporate them into your projects. These tactics might seem like workarounds at first glance, but they offer effective solutions to complex scenarios in TypeScript programming.

Answer №2

Frankly, I am unsure of what the problem could be. One option is to submit an issue on their GitHub repository. Nonetheless, I can confirm that the following code functions even without explicitly defining the return type:

function generic<T>(form: T, field: StringPropertyNames<T>) {
  return form[field];
}

It correctly identifies the return value as a string:

const test = {
  a: "b",
  c: 1,
  "other": "blah"
}
generic(test, "a").charAt(0) //works - "b"
generic(test, "a") * 5 // doesn't work - function result is not a number
generic(test, "c") //doesn't work - "c" is not compatible with "a" | "other"

I also recommend adding this restriction to ensure that the first argument must be an object:

function generic<T extends object>(form: T, field: StringPropertyNames<T>) {
  return form[field];
}

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