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May 22, 2025

TypeScript and JavaScript keywords

While learning TypeScript -- an ongoing process -- I sometimes struggle to find the canonical docs in the Handbook. So today, I asked grok to generate a list of TypeScript and JavaScript keywords and links to their docs.

Thank you all MDN and TypeScript contributors. 🙏

TypeScript

Keyword Description Docs
any Represents any type, bypassing type checking any
as Performs type assertion or const assertion type assertions
asserts Used in type predicates to assert a condition assertion functions
bigint Represents large integers bigint
boolean Represents true or false values boolean
declare Specifies ambient declarations ambient declarations
enum Defines a set of named constants enums
extends Extending types. cf JavaScript extends extends interface
infer Infers a type variable in conditional types infer types
is Used in type predicates type predicates
keyof Creates a type from an object’s keys keyof types
module Declares a module (similar to namespace) modules
namespace Organizes code in a named scope namespaces
never Represents values that never occur never
number Represents numeric values number
object Represents non-primitive types object
out Specifies variance in generic types variance annotations
override Ensures a method overrides a base class method override
readonly Prevents reassignment of properties readonly
satisfies Ensures a value matches a type without casting satisfies operator
string Represents string values string
symbol Represents unique identifiers symbol
type Defines a type alias type aliases
undefined Represents an undefined value undefined
unique Used with symbols for unique types unique symbol
unknown Represents values of unknown type unknown

JavaScript

Keyword Description Docs
async Declares an asynchronous function async function
await Pauses async function until a promise resolves await
break Exits a loop or switch statement break
case Defines a case in a switch statement switch
catch Handles exceptions in a try-catch block try...catch
class Declares a class class
const Declares a block-scoped, read-only variable const
continue Skips to the next iteration of a loop continue
debugger Invokes a debugging breakpoint debugger
default Specifies the default case in a switch or export switch
delete Deletes a property from an object delete
do Starts a do-while loop do...while
else Specifies alternative execution in an if statement if...else
export Exports a module member export
extends Indicates inheritance in classes extends
false Boolean literal for false Boolean
finally Executes after a try-catch block try...catch
for Creates a loop (for, for...of, for...in) for
function Declares a function function
get Defines a getter method get
if Conditional statement if...else
implements Reserved in JavaScript; specifies interface implementation in TypeScript implements
import Imports module members import
in Checks if a property exists in an object in
instanceof Tests if an object is an instance of a constructor instanceof
interface Reserved in JavaScript; defines type contracts in TypeScript interface
let Declares a block-scoped variable let
new Creates an instance of a constructor new
null Represents the absence of a value null
package Reserved in JavaScript; not used in TypeScript strict mode
private Reserved in JavaScript; restricts access in TypeScript private
protected Reserved in JavaScript; allows subclass access in TypeScript protected
public Reserved in JavaScript; allows unrestricted access in TypeScript public
return Exits a function and returns a value return
set Defines a setter method set
static Defines static class members static
super Refers to the parent class super
switch Evaluates an expression against multiple cases switch
this Refers to the current object context this
throw Throws an exception throw
true Boolean literal for true Boolean
try Attempts execution that may throw an error try...catch
typeof Returns the type of a value typeof
var Declares a variable (function or global scope) var
void Evaluates an expression without returning a value void
while Creates a while loop while
with Extends the scope chain (deprecated) with
yield Pauses and returns a value from a generator yield