Mapped type with conditional types in Typescript

Introduction

Mapped types with conditional types help you create new object types by changing properties based on conditions. This makes your code flexible and safe.

When you want to create a new type by changing some properties of an existing type based on their types.

When you need to filter or transform properties in an object type depending on their value types.

When you want to enforce different rules for different properties in a type automatically.

When you want to build utility types that adapt to the shape of other types.

Syntax

Typescript

type NewType<T> = {
  [P in keyof T]: T[P] extends SomeCondition ? TypeIfTrue : TypeIfFalse
};

Mapped types loop over keys of a type using [P in keyof T].

Conditional types check each property type with extends and choose a type accordingly.

Examples

This applies the readonly modifier to property types only if the property type is string.

Typescript

type ReadonlyStrings<T> = {
  [P in keyof T]: T[P] extends string ? Readonly<T[P]> : T[P]
};

This adds null to properties that are numbers.

Typescript

type NullableNumbers<T> = {
  [P in keyof T]: T[P] extends number ? T[P] | null : T[P]
};

Sample Program

This program creates a new type where string properties can also be undefined. The name property is allowed to be undefined because it is a string in the original type.

Typescript

type User = {
  id: number;
  name: string;
  active: boolean;
};

type OptionalStrings<T> = {
  [P in keyof T]: T[P] extends string ? T[P] | undefined : T[P]
};

const user1: OptionalStrings<User> = {
  id: 1,
  name: undefined, // allowed because name is string type
  active: true
};

console.log(user1);

Important Notes

Conditional types run for each property separately inside the mapped type.

You can combine multiple conditions for more complex transformations.

Mapped types with conditional types help keep your types DRY and adaptable.

Summary

Mapped types loop over keys to create new types.

Conditional types choose types based on conditions.

Together, they let you transform object types smartly and safely.

Practice

1. What does a mapped type with conditional types do in TypeScript?
type Example<T> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends string ? number : boolean }

easy

A. It creates a new type where string properties become number and others become boolean.

B. It creates a new type with all properties removed.

C. It changes all properties to string type.

D. It only keeps properties that are strings.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand mapped types

   Mapped types loop over each key in the original type to create a new type with transformed properties.

2. Step 2: Apply conditional types

   The conditional type checks if the property type extends string; if yes, it changes to number, else to boolean.

3. Final Answer:

   It creates a new type where string properties become number and others become boolean. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Mapped + conditional changes types based on condition [OK]

Hint: Mapped types loop keys; conditional types pick types by condition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it removes properties instead of transforming them
• Assuming all types become string
• Confusing conditional type logic

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax for a mapped type with a conditional type in TypeScript?

easy

A. type NewType<T> = { [K in T]: T[K] extends number ? string : boolean }

B. type NewType<T> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends number ? string : boolean }

C. type NewType<T> = { [K of keyof T]: T[K] extends number ? string : boolean }

D. type NewType<T> = { K in keyof T: T[K] ? string : boolean }

Solution

1. Step 1: Check mapped type syntax

   The correct syntax uses square brackets with 'in' keyword: [K in keyof T].

2. Step 2: Verify conditional type usage

   The conditional type is written as T[K] extends number ? string : boolean, which is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   type NewType<T> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends number ? string : boolean } -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Mapped type syntax = [K in keyof T] [OK]

Hint: Mapped types use [K in keyof T], not 'of' or missing brackets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'K in T' instead of 'K in keyof T'
• Using 'K of keyof T' which is invalid
• Missing square brackets around K in mapped type

3. Given the code:

type Flags = { a: string; b: number; c: boolean };
type Result = { [K in keyof Flags]: Flags[K] extends number ? 'num' : 'not-num' };
const test: Result = { a: 'not-num', b: 'num', c: 'not-num' };

What is the type of test.b?

medium

A. 'not-num'

B. number

C. 'num'

D. boolean

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the mapped type Result

   For each key in Flags, if the property type is number, Result's property is 'num', else 'not-num'.

2. Step 2: Check property b in Flags

   b is number, so Result['b'] is 'num'.

3. Final Answer:

   'num' -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Flags['b'] is number, so Result['b'] = 'num' [OK]

Hint: Check original type, then apply conditional mapping [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing original property type with mapped type
• Assuming test.b is number instead of 'num'
• Ignoring conditional type logic

4. Identify the error in this mapped type:

type Fix<T> = { [P in keyof T]: T[P] extends string ? number : }

medium

A. Incorrect use of keyof operator

B. Cannot use conditional types inside mapped types

C. Square brackets missing around P

D. Missing type after colon in conditional type

Solution

1. Step 1: Check conditional type syntax

   Conditional types require both true and false branches separated by colon.

2. Step 2: Identify missing false branch

   The code ends with ':' but no type after it, causing syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing type after colon in conditional type -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Conditional types need both branches [OK]

Hint: Conditional types need both true and false parts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Leaving out false branch in conditional type
• Misplacing square brackets in mapped type
• Thinking keyof is wrong here

5. How can you create a mapped type that keeps only the keys of an object whose values are assignable to a specific type, for example, only keys with string values?
Choose the correct mapped type:

hard

A. type FilterStrings<T> = { [K in keyof T as T[K] extends string ? K : never]: T[K] }

B. type FilterStrings<T> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends string ? never : K }

C. type FilterStrings<T> = { [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends string ? string : never }

D. type FilterStrings<T> = { [K in keyof T]: K extends string ? T[K] : never }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand key remapping in mapped types

   Using 'as' allows filtering keys by condition, replacing keys with 'never' to omit them.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   type FilterStrings<T> = { [K in keyof T as T[K] extends string ? K : never]: T[K] } correctly uses 'as' with conditional to keep keys where T[K] extends string; others become never (excluded).

3. Final Answer:

   type FilterStrings<T> = { [K in keyof T as T[K] extends string ? K : never]: T[K] } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Key remapping with 'as' filters keys [OK]

Hint: Use 'as' with conditional to filter keys in mapped types [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not using 'as' for key filtering
• Returning never as value instead of key
• Confusing key and value conditions