When I first started using TypeScript with React, I'll be honest—it felt like a lot of extra work. I was writing more code, dealing with type errors, and wondering if it was really worth it. But after spending time with it, I can't imagine going back to plain JavaScript.

TypeScript adds type safety to JavaScript, which means you catch errors before they happen. Instead of finding out at runtime that you passed the wrong type of data to a function, TypeScript tells you about it while you're writing code. It's like having a really helpful friend looking over your shoulder.

Why TypeScript matters for React

React applications can get complex quickly. You're passing props between components, managing state, and handling data from APIs. Without types, it's easy to make mistakes. You might pass a string when a component expects a number, or forget to include a required prop.

TypeScript helps you avoid these mistakes. When you define the types for your props, TypeScript makes sure you use them correctly. If you try to pass the wrong type, you'll get an error immediately. This saves you time debugging later.

Getting comfortable with types

The learning curve for TypeScript isn't too steep, but it does take some practice. You start with basic types like string, number, and boolean. Then you move on to interfaces and types for objects. For React, you'll spend a lot of time defining prop types.

Here's a simple example: if you have a component that displays a user's name and age, you'd define an interface for the props. Then TypeScript makes sure you always pass both the name and age, and that they're the right types.

interface UserProps {
  name: string;
  age: number;
}

function UserCard({ name, age }: UserProps) {
  return (
    <div>
      <h2>{name}</h2>
      <p>{age} years old</p>
    </div>
  );
}

Handling state and hooks

When you use useState or other hooks, TypeScript helps you define what type of data you're storing. This prevents you from accidentally setting state to the wrong type. If you have a state variable that should be a number, TypeScript won't let you set it to a string.

For more complex state, you can define interfaces that describe the shape of your data. This is especially helpful when working with API responses or form data. You know exactly what properties are available, and your editor can autocomplete them for you.

Working with APIs

One of the places where TypeScript really shines is when you're working with data from APIs. You can define the shape of the data you expect to receive, and TypeScript will help you use it correctly throughout your application.

If the API response changes or you make a mistake, TypeScript will let you know. This is much better than finding out at runtime that the data structure is different than you expected.

The benefits add up

As your application grows, the benefits of TypeScript become more obvious. When you come back to code you wrote months ago, the types serve as documentation. You can see what a function expects and what it returns without having to read through the implementation.

Refactoring becomes safer too. If you change a type definition, TypeScript will show you everywhere that needs to be updated. This means you're less likely to break things when you make changes.

My advice

If you're new to TypeScript, start small. Add types to a few components and see how it feels. You don't have to type everything perfectly from the start. You can use any when you're stuck, but try to avoid it as much as possible.

The TypeScript compiler is pretty good at inferring types, so you don't have to be explicit about everything. Let it do the work when it can, and only add types where they're helpful.

The bottom line

TypeScript might seem like extra work at first, but it pays off. You write more reliable code, catch bugs earlier, and your codebase becomes easier to maintain. For React applications, especially larger ones, TypeScript is worth the investment.

The React community has embraced TypeScript, so you'll find plenty of examples and libraries that work well with it. The tooling is excellent, and most editors have great support for TypeScript.

Give it a try on your next project. Start with the basics, and gradually use more advanced features as you get comfortable. You might find that it changes how you think about writing code.