Union types in TypeScript are a great feature that offers a balance between flexibility and structure. They remind me of how JavaScript provides us with almost unlimited flexibility, but with great responsibility. Union types bring some of that flexibility into TypeScript, but with more built-in safety.
However, I’ve noticed that it’s easy to overuse union types without considering other options, like the base pattern approach. Today, I want to share an example that made me rethink this. Both union types and the base pattern approach have their valid uses, but comparing them side by side helped me make more informed decisions.
In my experience, the base pattern approach is more flexible, especially when the number of related interfaces starts to grow—say, more than two. While both union types and the base pattern allow direct access to shared properties, the base pattern simplifies working with different types by making their differences more explicit and easier to notice.
When considering compiler efforts, the base pattern approach can also lead to better scalability and faster compile times as your codebase grows.
Have you run into similar situations in your TypeScript work? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Let’s share our knowledge and learn from each other!
You can check out the full example on my GitHub repo
#TypeScript #SoftwareEngineering #JavaScript #CodingBestPractices
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