Typescript Strict

---
created: 2025-12-16
modified: 2026-07-28
reviewed: 2025-12-16
name: typescript-strict
description: "TypeScript strict mode: tsconfig.json, strict flags, Bundler/NodeNext moduleResolution, verbatimModuleSyntax. Use when setting up TS or migrating to stricter type safety."
user-invocable: false
allowed-tools: Glob, Grep, Read, Bash, Edit, Write, TodoWrite, WebFetch, WebSearch
---

# TypeScript Strict Mode

Modern TypeScript configuration with strict type checking for maximum safety and developer experience. This guide focuses on TypeScript 5.x best practices for 2025.

## Core Expertise

**What is Strict Mode?**
- **Type safety**: Catch more bugs at compile time
- **Better IDE experience**: Improved autocomplete and refactoring
- **Maintainability**: Self-documenting code with explicit types
- **Modern defaults**: Align with current TypeScript best practices

**Key Capabilities**
- Strict null checking
- Strict function types
- No implicit any
- No unchecked indexed access
- Proper module resolution
- Modern import/export syntax enforcement

## Recommended tsconfig.json (2025)

### Minimal Production Setup

```json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    // Type Checking
    "strict": true,
    "noUncheckedIndexedAccess": true,
    "noImplicitOverride": true,
    "noPropertyAccessFromIndexSignature": true,
    "noFallthroughCasesInSwitch": true,
    "noUnusedLocals": true,
    "noUnusedParameters": true,

    // Modules
    "module": "ESNext",
    "moduleResolution": "Bundler",
    "resolveJsonModule": true,
    "allowSyntheticDefaultImports": true,
    "esModuleInterop": false,
    "verbatimModuleSyntax": true,

    // Emit
    "target": "ES2022",
    "lib": ["ES2023", "DOM", "DOM.Iterable"],
    "outDir": "dist",
    "declaration": true,
    "declarationMap": true,
    "sourceMap": true,
    "removeComments": false,
    "noEmit": false,

    // Interop
    "isolatedModules": true,
    "allowJs": false,
    "checkJs": false,
    "skipLibCheck": true,
    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true
  },
  "include": ["src/**/*"],
  "exclude": ["node_modules", "dist", "build"]
}
```

## Strict Flags Explained

### `strict: true` (Umbrella Flag)

Enables all strict type-checking options:

```json
{
  "strict": true
  // Equivalent to:
  // "noImplicitAny": true,
  // "strictNullChecks": true,
  // "strictFunctionTypes": true,
  // "strictBindCallApply": true,
  // "strictPropertyInitialization": true,
  // "noImplicitThis": true,
  // "alwaysStrict": true
}
```

**Always enable `strict: true` for new projects.**

### Additional Strict Flags (Recommended for 2025)

| Flag | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `noUncheckedIndexedAccess` | Index signatures return `T \| undefined` instead of `T` |
| `noImplicitOverride` | Require `override` keyword for overridden methods |
| `noPropertyAccessFromIndexSignature` | Force bracket notation for index signatures |
| `noFallthroughCasesInSwitch` | Prevent fallthrough in switch statements |
| `exactOptionalPropertyTypes` | Optional properties cannot be set to `undefined` explicitly |

### `noUncheckedIndexedAccess` (Essential)

```typescript
// With noUncheckedIndexedAccess
const users: Record<string, User> = {};
const user = users['john'];
// Type: User | undefined (correct - must check before use)

if (user) {
  console.log(user.name); // Type narrowed to User
}
```

**Always enable this flag to prevent runtime errors.**

## Module Resolution

### Choosing a Strategy

| Strategy | Use For | Extensions Required |
|----------|---------|---------------------|
| `Bundler` | Vite, Webpack, Bun projects | No |
| `NodeNext` | Node.js libraries and servers | Yes (`.js`) |

### `moduleResolution: "Bundler"` (Vite/Bun)

```json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "module": "ESNext",
    "moduleResolution": "Bundler"
  }
}
```

- No file extensions required in imports
- JSON imports without assertions
- Package.json `exports` field support

### `moduleResolution: "NodeNext"` (Node.js)

```json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "module": "NodeNext",
    "moduleResolution": "NodeNext"
  }
}
```

- Respects package.json `type: "module"`
- Requires explicit `.js` extensions (even for `.ts` files)
- Supports conditional exports

## verbatimModuleSyntax (Recommended for 2025)

Prevents TypeScript from rewriting imports/exports.

```json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "verbatimModuleSyntax": true
  }
}
```

```typescript
// Error: 'User' is a type and must be imported with 'import type'
import { User } from './types';

// Correct
import type { User } from './types';

// Correct (mixed import)
import { fetchUser, type User } from './api';
```

**Replaces** deprecated `importsNotUsedAsValues` and `preserveValueImports`.

## Agentic Optimizations

| Context | Command |
|---------|---------|
| Check errors | `bunx tsc --noEmit` |
| Check single file | `bunx tsc --noEmit src/utils.ts` |
| Show config | `bunx tsc --showConfig` |
| Check module resolution | `bunx tsc --showConfig \| grep moduleResolution` |

## Quick Reference

### Recommended Flags

| Flag | Value | Category |
|------|-------|----------|
| `strict` | `true` | Type Checking |
| `noUncheckedIndexedAccess` | `true` | Type Checking |
| `noImplicitOverride` | `true` | Type Checking |
| `noPropertyAccessFromIndexSignature` | `true` | Type Checking |
| `noFallthroughCasesInSwitch` | `true` | Type Checking |
| `module` | `ESNext` / `NodeNext` | Modules |
| `moduleResolution` | `Bundler` / `NodeNext` | Modules |
| `verbatimModuleSyntax` | `true` | Modules |
| `target` | `ES2022` | Emit |
| `isolatedModules` | `true` | Interop |
| `skipLibCheck` | `true` | Interop |

For detailed examples, advanced patterns, and best practices, see [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md).

## References

- TypeScript Handbook: https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/intro.html
- TSConfig Reference: https://www.typescriptlang.org/tsconfig
- Strict Mode Guide: https://www.typescriptlang.org/tsconfig#strict
- Module Resolution: https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/module-resolution.html
- Best Practices: https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/declaration-files/do-s-and-don-ts.html