Type definition for a jagged array of type T and its array prototype extension












2















I'm trying to write a Typescript definition file for a JavaScript function I've attached to Array.prototype.



Array.js



/**
* Flattens the array recursively.
*
* @example
* [1, [2, 3]].flat() // => [1, 2, 3]
*
* @example
* [[1, [2, 3], [4, [5]]], 6].flat() // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
*/
Array.prototype.flat = function () {
return this.reduce((arr, val) => Array.isArray(val) ? arr.concat(val.flat()) : arr.concat(val), );
}


flat() works on an Array<T|S> where S is Array<T|S> and returns Array<T>. That is, it has a recursive definition, and all arrays fit the definition, as [1, 2, 3].flat() will simply return a copy of the original array.



I'm new to TypeScript, but my understanding is that in order to get the benefits of a TypeScript definition file (namely IntelliSense), the method definition must be within interface Array<T>. If this is the case, is there a way to place a constraint on T for a specialized version of Array<T>?



If not, how can I define an interface that will be picked up for every array AND will recognize when the array fits the recursive definition?










share|improve this question





























    2















    I'm trying to write a Typescript definition file for a JavaScript function I've attached to Array.prototype.



    Array.js



    /**
    * Flattens the array recursively.
    *
    * @example
    * [1, [2, 3]].flat() // => [1, 2, 3]
    *
    * @example
    * [[1, [2, 3], [4, [5]]], 6].flat() // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
    */
    Array.prototype.flat = function () {
    return this.reduce((arr, val) => Array.isArray(val) ? arr.concat(val.flat()) : arr.concat(val), );
    }


    flat() works on an Array<T|S> where S is Array<T|S> and returns Array<T>. That is, it has a recursive definition, and all arrays fit the definition, as [1, 2, 3].flat() will simply return a copy of the original array.



    I'm new to TypeScript, but my understanding is that in order to get the benefits of a TypeScript definition file (namely IntelliSense), the method definition must be within interface Array<T>. If this is the case, is there a way to place a constraint on T for a specialized version of Array<T>?



    If not, how can I define an interface that will be picked up for every array AND will recognize when the array fits the recursive definition?










    share|improve this question



























      2












      2








      2








      I'm trying to write a Typescript definition file for a JavaScript function I've attached to Array.prototype.



      Array.js



      /**
      * Flattens the array recursively.
      *
      * @example
      * [1, [2, 3]].flat() // => [1, 2, 3]
      *
      * @example
      * [[1, [2, 3], [4, [5]]], 6].flat() // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
      */
      Array.prototype.flat = function () {
      return this.reduce((arr, val) => Array.isArray(val) ? arr.concat(val.flat()) : arr.concat(val), );
      }


      flat() works on an Array<T|S> where S is Array<T|S> and returns Array<T>. That is, it has a recursive definition, and all arrays fit the definition, as [1, 2, 3].flat() will simply return a copy of the original array.



      I'm new to TypeScript, but my understanding is that in order to get the benefits of a TypeScript definition file (namely IntelliSense), the method definition must be within interface Array<T>. If this is the case, is there a way to place a constraint on T for a specialized version of Array<T>?



      If not, how can I define an interface that will be picked up for every array AND will recognize when the array fits the recursive definition?










      share|improve this question
















      I'm trying to write a Typescript definition file for a JavaScript function I've attached to Array.prototype.



      Array.js



      /**
      * Flattens the array recursively.
      *
      * @example
      * [1, [2, 3]].flat() // => [1, 2, 3]
      *
      * @example
      * [[1, [2, 3], [4, [5]]], 6].flat() // => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
      */
      Array.prototype.flat = function () {
      return this.reduce((arr, val) => Array.isArray(val) ? arr.concat(val.flat()) : arr.concat(val), );
      }


      flat() works on an Array<T|S> where S is Array<T|S> and returns Array<T>. That is, it has a recursive definition, and all arrays fit the definition, as [1, 2, 3].flat() will simply return a copy of the original array.



      I'm new to TypeScript, but my understanding is that in order to get the benefits of a TypeScript definition file (namely IntelliSense), the method definition must be within interface Array<T>. If this is the case, is there a way to place a constraint on T for a specialized version of Array<T>?



      If not, how can I define an interface that will be picked up for every array AND will recognize when the array fits the recursive definition?







      javascript typescript typescript-generics






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Nov 20 '18 at 6:23









      Shaun Luttin

      58.1k32223285




      58.1k32223285










      asked Nov 20 '18 at 2:55









      dx_over_dtdx_over_dt

      1,60342346




      1,60342346
























          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          3














          This is not a complete answer, but it does get us most of the way. Here it is in the TypeScript Playground.



          type JaggedArrayItem<T> = T | JaggedArray<T>;

          interface JaggedArray<T> extends Array<JaggedArrayItem<T>> { }

          type FlatArray<T> = T extends JaggedArrayItem<infer U> ? U : T;

          interface Array<T> {
          flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): FlatArray<T>;
          }

          Array.prototype.flat = function () {
          return this.reduce(
          (arr, val) => Array.isArray(val)
          ? arr.concat(val.flat())
          : arr.concat(val),
          );
          };

          // Test

          const myRecursiveArray: JaggedArray<number> = [
          10,
          [9],
          [
          [8],
          [
          [7],
          ]
          ],
          ];

          const flattened: number = myRecursiveArray.flat();
          const flattenedToo: (string | number) = [1, 'two'].flat();


          See also




          • https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/3496#issuecomment-128553540

          • https://github.com/shaunluttin/typescript-jagged-array-type-and-prototype






          share|improve this answer


























          • Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

            – dx_over_dt
            Nov 21 '18 at 17:55













          • @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:50











          • @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:55













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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          3














          This is not a complete answer, but it does get us most of the way. Here it is in the TypeScript Playground.



          type JaggedArrayItem<T> = T | JaggedArray<T>;

          interface JaggedArray<T> extends Array<JaggedArrayItem<T>> { }

          type FlatArray<T> = T extends JaggedArrayItem<infer U> ? U : T;

          interface Array<T> {
          flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): FlatArray<T>;
          }

          Array.prototype.flat = function () {
          return this.reduce(
          (arr, val) => Array.isArray(val)
          ? arr.concat(val.flat())
          : arr.concat(val),
          );
          };

          // Test

          const myRecursiveArray: JaggedArray<number> = [
          10,
          [9],
          [
          [8],
          [
          [7],
          ]
          ],
          ];

          const flattened: number = myRecursiveArray.flat();
          const flattenedToo: (string | number) = [1, 'two'].flat();


          See also




          • https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/3496#issuecomment-128553540

          • https://github.com/shaunluttin/typescript-jagged-array-type-and-prototype






          share|improve this answer


























          • Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

            – dx_over_dt
            Nov 21 '18 at 17:55













          • @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:50











          • @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:55


















          3














          This is not a complete answer, but it does get us most of the way. Here it is in the TypeScript Playground.



          type JaggedArrayItem<T> = T | JaggedArray<T>;

          interface JaggedArray<T> extends Array<JaggedArrayItem<T>> { }

          type FlatArray<T> = T extends JaggedArrayItem<infer U> ? U : T;

          interface Array<T> {
          flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): FlatArray<T>;
          }

          Array.prototype.flat = function () {
          return this.reduce(
          (arr, val) => Array.isArray(val)
          ? arr.concat(val.flat())
          : arr.concat(val),
          );
          };

          // Test

          const myRecursiveArray: JaggedArray<number> = [
          10,
          [9],
          [
          [8],
          [
          [7],
          ]
          ],
          ];

          const flattened: number = myRecursiveArray.flat();
          const flattenedToo: (string | number) = [1, 'two'].flat();


          See also




          • https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/3496#issuecomment-128553540

          • https://github.com/shaunluttin/typescript-jagged-array-type-and-prototype






          share|improve this answer


























          • Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

            – dx_over_dt
            Nov 21 '18 at 17:55













          • @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:50











          • @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:55
















          3












          3








          3







          This is not a complete answer, but it does get us most of the way. Here it is in the TypeScript Playground.



          type JaggedArrayItem<T> = T | JaggedArray<T>;

          interface JaggedArray<T> extends Array<JaggedArrayItem<T>> { }

          type FlatArray<T> = T extends JaggedArrayItem<infer U> ? U : T;

          interface Array<T> {
          flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): FlatArray<T>;
          }

          Array.prototype.flat = function () {
          return this.reduce(
          (arr, val) => Array.isArray(val)
          ? arr.concat(val.flat())
          : arr.concat(val),
          );
          };

          // Test

          const myRecursiveArray: JaggedArray<number> = [
          10,
          [9],
          [
          [8],
          [
          [7],
          ]
          ],
          ];

          const flattened: number = myRecursiveArray.flat();
          const flattenedToo: (string | number) = [1, 'two'].flat();


          See also




          • https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/3496#issuecomment-128553540

          • https://github.com/shaunluttin/typescript-jagged-array-type-and-prototype






          share|improve this answer















          This is not a complete answer, but it does get us most of the way. Here it is in the TypeScript Playground.



          type JaggedArrayItem<T> = T | JaggedArray<T>;

          interface JaggedArray<T> extends Array<JaggedArrayItem<T>> { }

          type FlatArray<T> = T extends JaggedArrayItem<infer U> ? U : T;

          interface Array<T> {
          flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): FlatArray<T>;
          }

          Array.prototype.flat = function () {
          return this.reduce(
          (arr, val) => Array.isArray(val)
          ? arr.concat(val.flat())
          : arr.concat(val),
          );
          };

          // Test

          const myRecursiveArray: JaggedArray<number> = [
          10,
          [9],
          [
          [8],
          [
          [7],
          ]
          ],
          ];

          const flattened: number = myRecursiveArray.flat();
          const flattenedToo: (string | number) = [1, 'two'].flat();


          See also




          • https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/3496#issuecomment-128553540

          • https://github.com/shaunluttin/typescript-jagged-array-type-and-prototype







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Nov 21 '18 at 19:51

























          answered Nov 20 '18 at 4:27









          Shaun LuttinShaun Luttin

          58.1k32223285




          58.1k32223285













          • Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

            – dx_over_dt
            Nov 21 '18 at 17:55













          • @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:50











          • @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:55





















          • Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

            – dx_over_dt
            Nov 21 '18 at 17:55













          • @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:50











          • @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

            – Shaun Luttin
            Nov 21 '18 at 19:55



















          Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

          – dx_over_dt
          Nov 21 '18 at 17:55







          Is there a reason we need FlatArray<T>? Can't flat()'s signature simply be flat(this: JaggedArray<T>): Array<T>;? I'm also unsure of why we need to surface an error for union types. [ 1, 'foo' ].flat() should work, no?

          – dx_over_dt
          Nov 21 '18 at 17:55















          @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

          – Shaun Luttin
          Nov 21 '18 at 19:50





          @dfoverdx Good point about the TODO item for surfacing an error. I put that in there because I though that the original question wanted to avoid union types... I think I was mistaken about that, so I deleted that TODO item.

          – Shaun Luttin
          Nov 21 '18 at 19:50













          @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

          – Shaun Luttin
          Nov 21 '18 at 19:55







          @dfoverdx If we return Array<T> instead of FlatArray<T>, then resultant type will not be a T. For instance, the number example would return this error at compile time: Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArrayItem<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'. Type 'JaggedArray<number>' is not assignable to type 'number'.

          – Shaun Luttin
          Nov 21 '18 at 19:55




















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