TypeScript Formatter

Tool Overview

This TypeScript formatter helps you format TypeScript code with consistent style and readability. It uses Prettier, a popular code formatter, to apply formatting rules automatically. You can customize formatting options to match your project's style guide or team preferences.

You paste your TypeScript code into the tool, and it formats it automatically as you type. You can adjust settings like line length, semicolons, quotes, and spacing. The tool also provides AI powered analysis to suggest formatting settings based on your code style.

This tool is for TypeScript developers, code reviewers, students learning TypeScript, and anyone who works with TypeScript code. It helps when you need consistent formatting across a project, want to clean up messy code, or need to match a specific style guide. Basic knowledge of TypeScript is helpful but not required.

The main problem it solves is that TypeScript code often has inconsistent formatting when written by different developers or copied from different sources. When code has inconsistent spacing, indentation, or style, it is harder to read, review, and maintain. This tool applies consistent formatting rules to make code professional and readable.

Background & Concept Explanation

TypeScript is a programming language that adds types to JavaScript. It helps catch errors before code runs and makes code easier to understand. TypeScript is widely used in modern web development and large applications.

Code formatting means applying consistent rules to how code looks. It includes indentation, spacing, line breaks, and style choices. Well formatted code is easier to read, understand, and maintain.

Different teams and projects use different formatting styles. Some prefer semicolons, others do not. Some use single quotes, others use double quotes. Some prefer longer lines, others prefer shorter lines. Consistency within a project is more important than the specific style chosen.

When working with TypeScript code, people face formatting challenges. Code written by different developers has different styles. Quick edits introduce inconsistent formatting. Legacy code may not follow modern standards. Minified code is impossible to read without formatting. A related operation involves beautifying JavaScript as part of a similar workflow.

Manual formatting is time consuming and error prone. It is easy to miss spacing issues or style inconsistencies. Different developers format code differently. This creates inconsistency across projects.

Automated formatting solves these problems. It applies consistent rules automatically. It saves time and ensures consistency. It makes code reviews focus on logic instead of style.

Prettier is a popular code formatter used by many projects. It enforces consistent formatting automatically. It supports many options to match different style preferences. It handles edge cases and complex code structures correctly.

Formatting options control how code looks. Print width controls how long lines can be before wrapping. Semicolons control whether statements end with semicolons. Quotes control whether strings use single or double quotes. Trailing commas control whether lists end with commas. These options let you match your project's style guide.

Key Features

• Prettier integration for reliable formatting. The tool uses Prettier, a widely used code formatter, to format TypeScript code. Prettier handles complex code structures and edge cases correctly. This ensures consistent and reliable formatting results.
• Customizable print width. You can set the maximum line length from 40 to 160 characters. The tool wraps lines longer than this limit. This lets you match your project's line length preferences. Common choices are 80 or 100 characters.
• Semicolon control. You can choose whether statements end with semicolons. Some style guides require semicolons, others do not. The tool applies your choice consistently throughout the code.
• Quote style control. You can choose single quotes or double quotes for strings. The tool converts all string quotes to match your choice. This creates consistency across your codebase.
• Trailing comma options. You can choose whether lists end with trailing commas. Options include none, ES5 compatible, or all. Trailing commas make version control diffs cleaner. They also make it easier to add new items to lists.
• Bracket spacing control. You can choose whether there are spaces inside object brackets. This affects how objects like { key: value } are formatted. The tool applies your choice consistently.
• Arrow function parentheses control. You can choose whether arrow functions always use parentheses around parameters. Options include always or avoid when possible. This affects formatting of functions like (x) => x or x => x.
• Tab width configuration. You can set indentation to 2 spaces, 4 spaces, or tabs. The tool applies this consistently throughout the code. This lets you match your project's indentation style.
• Formatting presets. You can choose from preset configurations like Default or Strict. Presets apply multiple options at once for common style preferences. This saves time when you want a standard configuration.
• Real time formatting. Code is formatted automatically as you type or paste it. The tool uses smart timing to avoid slowing down your browser. Results appear quickly without needing to click a button.
• Syntax validation. The tool validates TypeScript syntax as it formats. If there are syntax errors, it shows clear error messages. This helps catch problems before running the code.
• AI powered code style analysis. You can request AI analysis of your code style. The AI examines your code and suggests formatting settings. It provides reasoning for its suggestions. This helps you discover the style your code already uses.
• File upload support. You can upload TypeScript files directly instead of pasting code. The tool accepts .ts and .tsx files. This is useful for large files or when working with saved code files. The tool accepts files up to 5 megabytes in size.
• Copy to clipboard. You can copy the formatted code to your clipboard with one click. This makes it easy to use the formatted code in other tools or paste it into your editor.
• Export configuration file. You can download your formatting settings as a Prettier configuration file. The file is saved as .prettierrc and can be used in your project. This lets you share settings with your team or use them in other tools.
• Character count display. The tool shows how many characters your code has. It also shows the maximum allowed limit. This helps you stay within size limits.
• Size limits and validation. The tool accepts code up to 500 kilobytes in size. It checks the size before processing to prevent browser problems. If your code is larger, it shows a clear error message. This protects your browser from crashes when working with very large files.

Common Use Cases

A developer receives TypeScript code from a colleague that has inconsistent formatting. They paste it into the formatter, use AI analysis to detect the existing style, and format it consistently. They can then easily review and understand the code structure.

A team needs to standardize formatting across a large project. They use the formatter with consistent settings to format all files the same way. They export the configuration file and share it with the team. This ensures readability and reduces merge conflicts in version control.

A developer needs to format code to match a specific style guide. They adjust formatting options to match the guide's requirements. They use presets or custom settings to achieve the desired style. The formatted code matches the guide exactly. For adjacent tasks, formatting JavaScript addresses a complementary step.

A code reviewer needs to review a pull request with messy formatting. They use the formatter to format the code first, making it easier to spot logic issues. The consistent formatting makes the review process faster and more effective.

A student learning TypeScript receives example code that is hard to read. They use the formatter to format it, making it easier to understand the structure. They also use AI analysis to learn about different formatting styles.

A developer needs to clean up legacy TypeScript code before refactoring. They format the code to make it readable, then use AI analysis to understand the existing style. This helps them plan refactoring more effectively.

A developer receives minified TypeScript code and needs to debug it. They paste it into the formatter and see it formatted with proper indentation and line breaks. They can then easily read and understand the code structure.

A team wants to adopt Prettier for their project. They use the formatter to test different configuration options. They export the configuration file and add it to their project. This standardizes formatting across the entire codebase.

How to Use This Tool (Step-by-Step)

1. Open the TypeScript formatter tool. You will see an input area on the left and an output area on the right.
2. Click the settings button to open the settings panel if you want to customize options. The panel shows all available formatting options. You can also use presets for quick configuration.
3. Configure formatting options in the settings panel. Adjust print width using the slider from 40 to 160 characters. Toggle semicolons, single quotes, and bracket spacing on or off. Choose trailing comma style and arrow parentheses preference. These options control how your code is formatted.
4. Add your TypeScript code using one of two methods. Paste code directly into the input area on the left. Click the file icon to upload a .ts or .tsx file from your computer.
5. Wait a moment while the tool processes your code. Formatting happens automatically after a short pause. The output appears in the right panel.
6. Review the formatted output on the right side. Make sure the structure looks correct and that all formatting was applied as expected. Check that indentation, spacing, and style match your preferences.
7. Use AI analysis to discover your code's existing style. Click the AI Analysis button in the top controls. Wait for analysis to complete, then review the suggested configuration and reasoning. The tool automatically applies the suggested settings.
8. Adjust settings and reformat as needed. Change any option in the settings panel and see the output update automatically. Review the changes to ensure they match your requirements.
9. Use presets for quick configuration. Click Default to use standard formatting options. Click Strict to use stricter formatting rules. Presets apply multiple options at once.
10. Copy the formatted code if you need to use it elsewhere. Click the Copy button in the top controls. A notification confirms the copy was successful.
11. Export your configuration if you want to use it in your project. Click the Download button to save a .prettierrc file. This file contains all your formatting settings. You can add it to your project to share settings with your team.
12. Check the character count if you are working with large files. The count shows in the top right corner. Make sure you stay within the 500 kilobyte limit.
13. Clear all content when you are done or want to start fresh. Click the Clear button to remove input and output. This gives you a fresh start for new code.

Calculations & Logic

The tool first checks your input size by counting characters. It compares the count to a 500 kilobyte limit. If the input is larger, it shows an error and skips processing to protect your browser.

For formatting, the tool loads Prettier and TypeScript plugins. It tries to load from local files first, then falls back to online sources if needed. Once loaded, it uses Prettier to parse and format your TypeScript code. When working with related formats, formatting JSON data can be a useful part of the process.

Prettier parses your code into an abstract syntax tree. This tree represents the structure of your code. It then converts the tree back to formatted code using your options. This ensures formatting does not change code logic.

Print width controls line wrapping. Prettier measures each line and wraps it if it exceeds the limit. It tries to break lines at logical points like operators or commas. This keeps code readable even with long lines.

Semicolon handling adds or removes semicolons based on your choice. Prettier knows where semicolons are required by JavaScript rules. It adds them where needed or removes them when not required. This creates consistent semicolon usage.

Quote conversion changes all string quotes to match your choice. Prettier identifies all string literals in your code. It converts single quotes to double quotes or vice versa. It handles escaped quotes correctly to avoid breaking strings.

Trailing comma handling adds or removes trailing commas based on your choice. Prettier identifies lists, objects, and function parameters. It adds trailing commas where allowed or removes them based on your setting. This affects arrays, objects, function calls, and function parameters.

Bracket spacing adds or removes spaces inside object brackets. Prettier formats objects like { key: value } or {key: value} based on your choice. It applies this consistently to all object literals. This creates visual consistency.

Arrow function parentheses formatting wraps parameters based on your choice. Prettier identifies arrow functions and their parameters. It adds parentheses when required or removes them when possible based on your setting. This affects functions like (x) => x or x => x. In some workflows, formatting Dart code is a relevant follow-up operation.

Indentation is applied based on code structure. Nested blocks are indented by the chosen number of spaces or tabs. Each level of nesting adds another indentation unit. This creates a visual hierarchy that matches the code structure.

Syntax validation happens during parsing. Prettier tries to parse your code and checks for syntax errors. If parsing fails, it shows an error message with details. Common errors include unmatched brackets, invalid keywords, or type errors.

The tool uses debouncing to avoid processing code too frequently. When you type or paste, it waits 300 milliseconds before processing. This prevents the browser from slowing down when working with large files or fast typing. Processing happens in the background so the interface stays responsive.

AI analysis sends your code to a backend service. The service analyzes code patterns, style choices, and formatting preferences. It returns suggested configuration options with reasoning. The tool automatically applies the suggested settings.

Tips, Limitations & Best Practices

Always review formatted code to ensure it looks correct. While Prettier handles most cases well, some complex structures might format unexpectedly. Check that the formatted code matches your expectations.

Use consistent formatting across your project. Format all TypeScript files the same way to maintain readability. Export your configuration file and share it with your team. This ensures everyone uses the same formatting rules.

Use AI analysis to discover existing code style. The analysis helps you understand what style your code already uses. You can then configure the formatter to match that style. This maintains consistency with existing code. For related processing needs, formatting HTML markup handles a complementary task.

The tool has a 500 kilobyte size limit for input code. If your code is larger, consider splitting it into smaller files or processing it in parts. Very large files can slow down your browser or cause memory issues.

Fix syntax errors before relying on formatted output. While the tool may format code with errors, the output may not be correct. Use syntax validation to catch problems early.

Export your configuration file for team sharing. The .prettierrc file can be added to your project repository. This ensures all team members use the same formatting settings. It also works with other tools that support Prettier configuration.

Use presets for quick configuration. Default preset uses common formatting options. Strict preset uses stricter rules for consistency. You can customize presets further if needed.

Be aware that formatting may change code structure slightly. Prettier may reformat some expressions or statements. Always review formatted code to ensure it still works correctly. Test formatted code if you are unsure.

Save important code before formatting if you are unsure. While formatting is usually safe, having a backup ensures you can restore the original if needed. This is especially important for production code.

Use the character count to monitor file size. The count helps you stay within limits. It also helps you understand how large your code is.

Format code before committing to version control. Consistent formatting makes diffs cleaner and easier to review. It also reduces merge conflicts caused by formatting differences. This improves collaboration and code quality.

The tool preserves code functionality while improving readability. Formatting only changes whitespace and style, not logic. Your code should work exactly the same after formatting.