Using multiple discriminating keys in Typescript's union types

Issue Description:

When defining a union type that includes objects with various properties, TypeScript struggles to determine the correct type for error messages, especially when some types have multiple discriminating keys.

I believe I may be making an error in my approach, but I am aiming to improve the clarity of error messages for function calls in this scenario.

Snippet:

interface X1 {
  name: "X";
  id: 1;
  category: "one" | "two" | "three";
}

interface X2 {
  name: "X";
  id: 2;
  category: "one" | "two" | "three" | "four" | "five";
}

interface Y {
  name: "Y";
  id: 1;
  section: "alpha" | "beta" | "gamma";
}

interface Z {
  title: "Z";
  template: "template" | "test";
}

type Items = X1 | X2 | Y | Z;

async function processItem({ name, ...data }: Items): Promise<boolean> {
  // perform operation.
  return true;
}

processItem({
  name: "X",
  id: 2,
  category: "one",
});

Live Example:

Expected Error Message for the incorrect 'processItem' call:

"'one' is not a valid option for 'category', choose from 'one' | 'two' | 'three' | 'four' | 'five'" (correctly indicating the issue lies in the category property of X2 type.)

Actual Error Message Received:

"Argument of type '{ name: "X"; id: 2; category: "one"; }' is not assignable to parameter of type 'Items'. Type '{ name: "X"; id: 2; category: "one"; }' is not assignable to type 'X1 | X2 | Y | Z'. Types of property 'id' are incompatible. Type '2' is not assignable to type '1'."

Answer №1

Customizing errors in TypeScript can be challenging due to limitations in the language. There has been a suggestion raised to introduce something like Invalid<T>, where a compiler error would trigger whenever a type evaluates to it, displaying the type T as part of the message. Unfortunately, this feature is not yet implemented, leaving developers with subpar workarounds.

The main issue lies in the compiler's struggle to pinpoint the most relevant reason for a type check failure from the developer's perspective. When dealing with values that should be assignable to a union type like X | Y | Z, the compiler faces challenges in determining which specific member to complain about. While attempts have been made to improve this through suggestions like picking "the closest" member, clear definitions and language integration are still pending.

To tackle this challenge, one approach involves creating complex types using generics and conditional types to guide the compiler towards narrowing down the union on individual properties. By strategically examining each property against the candidate value passed into trackIt(), it's possible to refine the union type to match the closest values. This method aims to help the compiler deliver more targeted error messages.

A detailed implementation example includes defining custom types like EventsWithBetterErrors<E> to focus on key properties such as name, type, location, and subType within the Events union. By leveraging advanced typing techniques, developers can effectively steer the compiler towards identifying potential type mismatches and generating precise error feedback.

Testing the implementation reveals its effectiveness in isolating incorrect properties within the candidate value. By providing structured guidance to the compiler, developers can enhance the error detection process and streamline troubleshooting efforts.


Experimenting with these methods can significantly improve TypeScript error handling and streamline the debugging process. Good luck implementing and refining these strategies in your projects!

Link to code snippet

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