What is the proper way to define the types for the lodash flow function in TypeScript?

lodash.flow is a powerful function that can combine two or more functions to create a new function.

For example, using lodash.flow(double, addTwo) would result in a function that doubles a number and then adds two to it. However, when working with TypeScript, the function's type declaration becomes important. The current definition simply returns Function, but how should this be properly typed?

One way to do this is by defining the function like so:

declare function flow<In, Intermediate, Out>(f1: (a1: In) => Intermediate, f2: (a1: Intermediate) => Out): (a1: In) => Out
. This works well for two functions with the first one taking one input argument. But what if we want to extend this to work for any number of functions?

My attempt at solving this allows for multiple functions by calling it like this:

lodash.flow(f1, lodash.flow(f2, f3))

However, I am actually looking for a cleaner solution where we can simply write:

lodash.flow(f1, f2, f3)

Answer №1

It seems challenging to provide a definite definition for that.

Upon reviewing the lodash type declaration file, it appears they do not attempt to articulate such a relationship.

interface LoDashStatic {
    flow<TResult extends Function>(...funcs: Function[]): TResult;
}

Nevertheless, this does not conclusively rule out the possibility. It is plausible that the authors may have overlooked certain aspects, prompting us to delve further into the topic.

The concept of representing the relationship within an individual chain of functions is feasible. This has been exemplified in your provided instance. While manual versions can be created for varying parameter lengths when the chain length is predetermined, maintaining individual type information is crucial.

In scenarios involving variable length parameters, treating them as a Collection becomes imperative. Every variable needs to adhere to a singular (albeit potentially parameterized) type, but discrepancies arise with different function types, making storage within a well-typed container challenging.

To preserve type information concerning a parameter list like this, it is common practice to define a composition function between two parameters and apply it across multiple functions. This approach mirrors how promises retain type data. Although explicit parameter definitions are necessitated, the desired output type is eventually achieved, aligning with typical requirements.

If lodash were developed using a strongly-typed functional language, the existence of the flow function might be substituted with a piped composition object instead.

UPDATE: When referring to a "piped composition object," envision something along these lines:

class FunctionComposer<T,V> {
    constructor(protected func: (param: T) => V) { }

    public compose<X>(newFunc: (param:V) => X) {
        return new FunctionComposer((x: T) => newFunc(this.func(x)));
    }
    public out() {
        return this.func;
    }
}

let composedFunc = new FunctionComposer((x: number) => x * 2)
    .compose(x => x.toString())
    .out();

// composedFunc has type (param:number) => string

Answer №2

Here is a method you can try using conditional types:

const combine =
  <Type1, Type2>(func1: (input: Type1) => Type2) =>
  <Type3>(func2: (input: Type2) => Type3) =>
  (input: Type1) =>
    func2(func1(input));

const sequence = <Type1, Type2, Type3 = "♘", Type4 = "♘">(
  funcZero: (input: Type1) => Type2,
  ...funcs: [] | [(input: Type2) => Type3] | [(input: Type2) => Type3, (input: Type3) => Type4]
): ((input: Type1) => Type3 extends "♘" ? Type2 : Type4 extends "♘" ? Type3 : Type4) => {
  if (funcs[1]) {
    return combine(combine(funcZero)(funcs[0]!))(funcs[1]) as any;
  }

  if (funcs[0]) {
    return combine(funcZero)(funcs[0]) as any;
  }

  return funcZero as any;
};

In this instance, the function sequence allows for up to three arguments, but it can be expanded to accommodate more as needed.

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