Capitalize and Uncapitalize types in Typescript

Introduction

These types help change the first letter of a word to uppercase or lowercase. It makes text look neat or fit rules.

When you want to make the first letter of a string type uppercase.

When you want to make the first letter of a string type lowercase.

When you need to format type names or keys to follow naming rules.

When you want to clean up user input or data keys in types.

When you want to create new types based on existing ones but with changed first letter case.

Syntax

Typescript

Capitalize<S extends string>
Uncapitalize<S extends string>

Capitalize changes the first letter of the string type S to uppercase.

Uncapitalize changes the first letter of the string type S to lowercase.

Examples

This makes the first letter of 'hello' uppercase, so it becomes 'Hello'.

Typescript

type Upper = Capitalize<'hello'>;
// Result: 'Hello'

This makes the first letter of 'World' lowercase, so it becomes 'world'.

Typescript

type Lower = Uncapitalize<'World'>;
// Result: 'world'

Capitalizes the first letter of 'typescript'.

Typescript

type Mixed = Capitalize<'typescript'>;
// Result: 'Typescript'

Uncapitalizes the first letter of 'JavaScript'.

Typescript

type Mixed2 = Uncapitalize<'JavaScript'>;
// Result: 'javaScript'

Sample Program

This program shows how to use Capitalize and Uncapitalize types to change the first letter of string types. It then prints the results.

Typescript

type Capitalized = Capitalize<'apple'>;
type Uncapitalized = Uncapitalize<'Banana'>;

const fruit1: Capitalized = 'Apple';
const fruit2: Uncapitalized = 'banana';

console.log(fruit1);
console.log(fruit2);

Important Notes

These types only affect the first letter of the string type.

If the string is empty or the first character is not a letter, the result stays the same.

They work only on string literal types, not on general strings.

Summary

Capitalize makes the first letter uppercase.

Uncapitalize makes the first letter lowercase.

Use them to format string types easily in TypeScript.

Practice

1. What does the Capitalize<T> utility type do in TypeScript?

easy

A. It makes the first letter of a string type lowercase.

B. It makes the entire string type uppercase.

C. It reverses the string type.

D. It makes the first letter of a string type uppercase.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of Capitalize<T>

   The Capitalize utility type changes only the first letter of a string type to uppercase.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Other options describe different transformations like full uppercase or lowercase, which are not what Capitalize does.

3. Final Answer:

   It makes the first letter of a string type uppercase. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Capitalize = first letter uppercase [OK]

Hint: Capitalize only changes the first letter to uppercase [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it changes the whole string to uppercase
• Confusing Capitalize with Uncapitalize
• Assuming it reverses the string

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to uncapitalize a string type T in TypeScript?

easy

A. Uncapitalize<T>

B. Uncapitalize[T]

C. uncapitalize<T>

D. Uncapitalize(T)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall TypeScript generic syntax

   Generic utility types use angle brackets <> to specify the type parameter, like Uncapitalize<T>.

2. Step 2: Check case sensitivity and brackets

   TypeScript is case sensitive and uses angle brackets, so 'Uncapitalize<T>' is correct, while parentheses or square brackets are invalid here.

3. Final Answer:

   Uncapitalize<T> -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Generic types use <> brackets [OK]

Hint: Use angle brackets for generic types like Uncapitalize<T> [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using parentheses instead of angle brackets
• Writing utility type names in lowercase
• Using square brackets instead of angle brackets

3. What is the resulting type of Capitalize<'hello world'> in TypeScript?

medium

A. 'Hello world'

B. 'hello world'

C. 'HELLO WORLD'

D. 'hELLO WORLD'

Solution

1. Step 1: Apply Capitalize to the string literal

   Capitalize changes only the first letter to uppercase, so 'hello world' becomes 'Hello world'.

2. Step 2: Confirm the rest of the string remains unchanged

   Only the first character changes; the rest stays lowercase as in the original string.

3. Final Answer:

   'Hello world' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Capitalize<'hello world'> = 'Hello world' [OK]

Hint: Only first letter changes to uppercase, rest stays same [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Making the entire string uppercase
• Not changing any letter
• Changing only the first letter to lowercase

4. Given the code snippet:

type T = uncapitalize<'HelloWorld'>;

What is the error in this code?

medium

A. The string literal should be lowercase.

B. The utility type name should be capitalized as Uncapitalize.

C. The angle brackets should be replaced with parentheses.

D. There is no error; the code is correct.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check utility type name casing

   TypeScript utility types like Uncapitalize must start with uppercase letters; 'uncapitalize' is invalid.

2. Step 2: Verify other syntax elements

   The string literal and angle brackets are correct; only the utility type name casing is wrong.

3. Final Answer:

   The utility type name should be capitalized as Uncapitalize. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Utility types start with uppercase letters [OK]

Hint: Utility types always start with uppercase letters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using lowercase for utility type names
• Changing brackets to parentheses
• Thinking string literal case matters here

5. How can you create a new type that capitalizes the first letter of each word in a union type 'apple' | 'banana' | 'cherry' using TypeScript's Capitalize utility?

hard

A. type Fruits = Capitalize<'apple banana cherry'>;

B. type Fruits = Capitalize<apple | banana | cherry>;

C. type Fruits = Capitalize<'apple'> | Capitalize<'banana'> | Capitalize<'cherry'>;

D. type Fruits = Uncapitalize<'apple' | 'banana' | 'cherry'>;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Capitalize on union types

   Capitalizing a union type like 'apple' | 'banana' | 'cherry' directly does not capitalize each word separately.

2. Step 2: Capitalize each string literal individually

   Applying Capitalize to each string separately and then unioning them ensures each word's first letter is capitalized.

3. Final Answer:

   type Fruits = Capitalize<'apple'> | Capitalize<'banana'> | Capitalize<'cherry'>; -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Capitalize each union member separately [OK]

Hint: Capitalize each union member separately for correct result [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Applying Capitalize to the whole union at once
• Using Uncapitalize instead of Capitalize
• Trying to capitalize a single string with all words