How to declare a Fixed length Array in TypeScript

Question

At the risk of demonstrating my lack of knowledge surrounding TypeScript types - I have the following question.

When you make a type declaration for an array like th

Answer 1

The Tuple approach :

This solution provides a strict FixedLengthArray (ak.a. SealedArray) type signature based in Tuples.

Syntax example :

// Array containing 3 strings
let foo : FixedLengthArray<[string, string, string]> 

This is the safest approach, considering it prevents accessing indexes out of the boundaries.

Implementation :

type ArrayLengthMutationKeys = 'splice' | 'push' | 'pop' | 'shift' | 'unshift' | number
type ArrayItems> = T extends Array ? TItems : never
type FixedLengthArray =
  Pick>
  & { [Symbol.iterator]: () => IterableIterator< ArrayItems > }

Tests :

var myFixedLengthArray: FixedLengthArray< [string, string, string]>

// Array declaration tests
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a', 'b', 'c' ]  // ✅ OK
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a', 'b', 123 ]  // ✅ TYPE ERROR
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a' ]            // ✅ LENGTH ERROR
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a', 'b' ]       // ✅ LENGTH ERROR

// Index assignment tests 
myFixedLengthArray[1] = 'foo'           // ✅ OK
myFixedLengthArray[1000] = 'foo'        // ✅ INVALID INDEX ERROR

// Methods that mutate array length
myFixedLengthArray.push('foo')          // ✅ MISSING METHOD ERROR
myFixedLengthArray.pop()                // ✅ MISSING METHOD ERROR

// Direct length manipulation
myFixedLengthArray.length = 123         // ✅ READ-ONLY ERROR

// Destructuring
var [ a ] = myFixedLengthArray          // ✅ OK
var [ a, b ] = myFixedLengthArray       // ✅ OK
var [ a, b, c ] = myFixedLengthArray    // ✅ OK
var [ a, b, c, d ] = myFixedLengthArray // ✅ INVALID INDEX ERROR

(*) This solution requires the noImplicitAny typescript configuration directive to be enabled in order to work (commonly recommended practice)

---

The Array(ish) approach :

This solution behaves as an augmentation of the Array type, accepting an additional second parameter(Array length). Is not as strict and safe as the Tuple based solution.

Syntax example :

let foo: FixedLengthArray 

Keep in mind that this approach will not prevent you from accessing an index out of the declared boundaries and set a value on it.

Implementation :

type ArrayLengthMutationKeys = 'splice' | 'push' | 'pop' | 'shift' |  'unshift'
type FixedLengthArray]> =
  Pick>
  & {
    readonly length: L 
    [ I : number ] : T
    [Symbol.iterator]: () => IterableIterator   
  }

Tests :

var myFixedLengthArray: FixedLengthArray

// Array declaration tests
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a', 'b', 'c' ]  // ✅ OK
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a', 'b', 123 ]  // ✅ TYPE ERROR
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a' ]            // ✅ LENGTH ERROR
myFixedLengthArray = [ 'a', 'b' ]       // ✅ LENGTH ERROR

// Index assignment tests 
myFixedLengthArray[1] = 'foo'           // ✅ OK
myFixedLengthArray[1000] = 'foo'        // ❌ SHOULD FAIL

// Methods that mutate array length
myFixedLengthArray.push('foo')          // ✅ MISSING METHOD ERROR
myFixedLengthArray.pop()                // ✅ MISSING METHOD ERROR

// Direct length manipulation
myFixedLengthArray.length = 123         // ✅ READ-ONLY ERROR

// Destructuring
var [ a ] = myFixedLengthArray          // ✅ OK
var [ a, b ] = myFixedLengthArray       // ✅ OK
var [ a, b, c ] = myFixedLengthArray    // ✅ OK
var [ a, b, c, d ] = myFixedLengthArray // ❌ SHOULD FAIL