The list below outlines which constructs are currently supported when using JSDoc annotations to provide type information in JavaScript files.
Note:
- Any tags which are not explicitly listed below (such as
@async) are not yet supported. - Only documentation tags are supported in TypeScript files. The rest of the tags are only supported in JavaScript files.
Types
@type@import@param(or@argor@argument)@returns(or@return)@typedef@callback@template@satisfies
Classes
- Property Modifiers
@public,@private,@protected,@readonly @override@extends(or@augments)@implements@class(or@constructor)@this
Documentation
Documentation tags work in both TypeScript and JavaScript.
Other
The meaning is usually the same, or a superset, of the meaning of the tag given at jsdoc.app. The code below describes the differences and gives some example usage of each tag.
Note: You can use the playground to explore JSDoc support.
Types
@type
You can reference types with the “@type” tag. The type can be:
- Primitive, like
stringornumber. - Declared in a TypeScript declaration, either global or imported.
- Declared in a JSDoc
@typedeftag.
You can use most JSDoc type syntax and any TypeScript syntax, from the most basic like string to the most advanced, like conditional types.
jsTry/*** @type {string}*/vars ;/** @type {Window} */varwin ;/** @type {PromiseLike<string>} */varpromisedString ;// You can specify an HTML Element with DOM properties/** @type {HTMLElement} */varmyElement =document .querySelector (selector );element .dataset .myData = "";
@type can specify a union type — for example, something can be either a string or a boolean.
jsTry/*** @type {string | boolean}*/varsb ;
You can specify array types using a variety of syntaxes:
jsTry/** @type {number[]} */varns ;/** @type {Array.<number>} */varjsdoc ;/** @type {Array<number>} */varnas ;
You can also specify object literal types. For example, an object with properties ‘a’ (string) and ‘b’ (number) uses the following syntax:
jsTry/** @type {{ a: string, b: number }} */varvar9 ;
You can specify map-like and array-like objects using string and number index signatures, using either standard JSDoc syntax or TypeScript syntax.
jsTry/*** A map-like object that maps arbitrary `string` properties to `number`s.** @type {Object.<string, number>}*/varstringToNumber ;/** @type {Object.<number, object>} */vararrayLike ;
The preceding two types are equivalent to the TypeScript types { [x: string]: number } and { [x: number]: any }. The compiler understands both syntaxes.
You can specify function types using either TypeScript or Google Closure syntax:
jsTry/** @type {function(string, boolean): number} Closure syntax */varsbn ;/** @type {(s: string, b: boolean) => number} TypeScript syntax */varsbn2 ;
Or you can just use the unspecified Function type:
jsTry/** @type {Function} */varfn7 ;/** @type {function} */varfn6 ;
Other types from Closure also work:
jsTry/*** @type {*} - can be 'any' type*/varstar ;/*** @type {?} - unknown type (same as 'any')*/varquestion ;
Casts
TypeScript borrows cast syntax from Google Closure.
This lets you cast types to other types by adding a @type tag before any parenthesized expression.
jsTry/*** @type {number | string}*/varnumberOrString =Math .random () < 0.5 ? "hello" : 100;vartypeAssertedNumber = /** @type {number} */ (numberOrString );
You can even cast to const just like TypeScript:
jsTryletone = /** @type {const} */(1);
Import types
You can import declarations from other files using import types. This syntax is TypeScript-specific and differs from the JSDoc standard:
jsTry// @filename: types.d.tsexport typePet = {name : string,};// @filename: main.js/*** @param {import("./types").Pet} p*/functionwalk (p ) {console .log (`Walking ${p .name }...`);}
import types can be used to get the type of a value from a module if you don’t know the type, or if it has a large type that is annoying to type:
jsTry/*** @type {typeof import("./accounts").userAccount}*/varx =require ("./accounts").userAccount ;
@import
The @import tag can let us reference exports from other files.
jsTry/*** @import {Pet} from "./types"*//*** @type {Pet}*/varmyPet ;myPet .name ;
These tags don’t actually import files at runtime, and the symbols they bring into scope can only be used within JSDoc comments for type-checking.
jsTry// @filename: dog.jsexport classDog {woof () {console .log ("Woof!");}}// @filename: main.js/** @import { Dog } from "./dog.js" */constd = newDog (); // error!
@param and @returns
@param uses the same type syntax as @type, but adds a parameter name.
The parameter may also be declared optional by surrounding the name with square brackets:
jsTry// Parameters may be declared in a variety of syntactic forms/*** @param {string} p1 - A string param.* @param {string=} p2 - An optional param (Google Closure syntax)* @param {string} [p3] - Another optional param (JSDoc syntax).* @param {string} [p4="test"] - An optional param with a default value* @returns {string} This is the result*/functionstringsStringStrings (p1 ,p2 ,p3 ,p4 ) {// TODO}
Likewise, for the return type of a function:
jsTry/*** @return {PromiseLike<string>}*/functionps () {}/*** @returns {{ a: string, b: number }} - May use '@returns' as well as '@return'*/functionab () {}
@typedef, @callback, and @param
You can define complex types with @typedef.
Similar syntax works with @param.
jsTry/*** @typedef {Object} SpecialType - creates a new type named 'SpecialType'* @property {string} prop1 - a string property of SpecialType* @property {number} prop2 - a number property of SpecialType* @property {number=} prop3 - an optional number property of SpecialType* @prop {number} [prop4] - an optional number property of SpecialType* @prop {number} [prop5=42] - an optional number property of SpecialType with default*//** @type {SpecialType} */varspecialTypeObject ;specialTypeObject .prop3 ;
You can use either object or Object on the first line.
jsTry/*** @typedef {object} SpecialType1 - creates a new type named 'SpecialType1'* @property {string} prop1 - a string property of SpecialType1* @property {number} prop2 - a number property of SpecialType1* @property {number=} prop3 - an optional number property of SpecialType1*//** @type {SpecialType1} */varspecialTypeObject1 ;
@param allows a similar syntax for one-off type specifications.
Note that the nested property names must be prefixed with the name of the parameter:
jsTry/*** @param {Object} options - The shape is the same as SpecialType above* @param {string} options.prop1* @param {number} options.prop2* @param {number=} options.prop3* @param {number} [options.prop4]* @param {number} [options.prop5=42]*/functionspecial (options ) {return (options .prop4 || 1001) +options .prop5 ;}
@callback is similar to @typedef, but it specifies a function type instead of an object type:
jsTry/*** @callback Predicate* @param {string} data* @param {number} [index]* @returns {boolean}*//** @type {Predicate} */constok = (s ) => !(s .length % 2);
Of course, any of these types can be declared using TypeScript syntax in a single-line @typedef:
js/** @typedef {{ prop1: string, prop2: string, prop3?: number }} SpecialType *//** @typedef {(data: string, index?: number) => boolean} Predicate */
@template
You can declare type parameters with the @template tag.
This lets you make functions, classes, or types that are generic:
jsTry/*** @template T* @param {T} x - A generic parameter that flows through to the return type* @returns {T}*/functionid (x ) {returnx ;}consta =id ("string");constb =id (123);constc =id ({});
Use comma or multiple tags to declare multiple type parameters:
js/*** @template T,U,V* @template W,X*/
You can also specify a type constraint before the type parameter name. Only the first type parameter in a list is constrained:
jsTry/*** @template {string} K - K must be a string or string literal* @template {{ serious(): string }} Seriousalizable - must have a serious method* @param {K} key* @param {Seriousalizable} object*/functionseriousalize (key ,object ) {// ????}
Finally, you can specify a default for a type parameter:
jsTry/** @template [T=object] */classCache {/** @param {T} initial */constructor(initial ) {}}letc = newCache ()
@satisfies
@satisfies provides access to the postfix operator satisfies in TypeScript. Satisfies is used to declare that a value implements a type but does not affect the type of the value.
jsTry// @ts-check/*** @typedef {"hello world" | "Hello, world"} WelcomeMessage*//** @satisfies {WelcomeMessage} */constmessage = "hello world"/** @Type '"Hello world!"' does not satisfy the expected type 'WelcomeMessage'.1360Type '"Hello world!"' does not satisfy the expected type 'WelcomeMessage'.satisfies {WelcomeMessage} */constfailingMessage = "Hello world!"/** @type {WelcomeMessage} */constmessageUsingType = "hello world"
Classes
Classes can be declared as ES6 classes.
jsTryclassC {/*** @param {number} data*/constructor(data ) {// property types can be inferredthis.name = "foo";// or set explicitly/** @type {string | null} */this.title = null;// or simply annotated, if they're set elsewhere/** @type {number} */this.size ;this.initialize (data ); // Should error, initializer expects a string}/*** @param {string} s*/initialize = function (s ) {this.size =s .length ;};}varc = newC (0);// C should only be called with new, but// because it is JavaScript, this is allowed and// considered an 'any'.varresult =C (1);
They can also be declared as constructor functions; use @constructor along with @this for this.
Property Modifiers
@public, @private, and @protected work exactly like public, private, and protected in TypeScript:
jsTry// @ts-checkclassCar {constructor() {/** @private */this.identifier = 100;}printIdentifier () {console .log (this.identifier );}}constc = newCar ();Property 'identifier' is private and only accessible within class 'Car'.2341Property 'identifier' is private and only accessible within class 'Car'.console .log (c .); identifier
@publicis always implied and can be left off, but means that a property can be reached from anywhere.@privatemeans that a property can only be used within the containing class.@protectedmeans that a property can only be used within the containing class, and all derived subclasses, but not on dissimilar instances of the containing class.
@public, @private, and @protected do not work in constructor functions.
@readonly
The @readonly modifier ensures that a property is only ever written to during initialization.
jsTry// @ts-checkclassCar {constructor() {/** @readonly */this.identifier = 100;}printIdentifier () {console .log (this.identifier );}}constc = newCar ();console .log (c .identifier );
@override
@override works the same way as in TypeScript; use it on methods that override a method from a base class:
jsTryexport classC {m () { }}classD extendsC {/** @override */m () { }}
Set noImplicitOverride: true in tsconfig to check overrides.
@extends
When JavaScript classes extend a generic base class, there is no JavaScript syntax for passing a type argument. The @extends tag allows this:
jsTry/*** @template T* @extends {Set<T>}*/classSortableSet extendsSet {// ...}
Note that @extends only works with classes. Currently, there is no way for a constructor function to extend a class.
@implements
In the same way, there is no JavaScript syntax for implementing a TypeScript interface. The @implements tag works just like in TypeScript:
jsTry/** @implements {Print} */classTextBook {// TODO}}
@constructor
The compiler infers constructor functions based on this-property assignments, but you can make checking stricter and suggestions better if you add a @constructor tag:
jsTry/*** @constructor* @param {number} data*/functionC (data ) {// property types can be inferredthis.name = "foo";// or set explicitly/** @type {string | null} */this.title = null;// or simply annotated, if they're set elsewhere/** @type {number} */this.size ;this.Argument of type 'number' is not assignable to parameter of type 'string'.2345Argument of type 'number' is not assignable to parameter of type 'string'.initialize (); data }/*** @param {string} s*/C .prototype .initialize = function (s ) {this.size =s .length ;};varc = newC (0);c .size ;varValue of type 'typeof C' is not callable. Did you mean to include 'new'?2348Value of type 'typeof C' is not callable. Did you mean to include 'new'?result =C (1);
Note: Error messages only show up in JS codebases with a JSConfig and
checkJsenabled.
With @constructor, this is checked inside the constructor function C, so you will get suggestions for the initialize method and an error if you pass it a number. Your editor may also show warnings if you call C instead of constructing it.
Unfortunately, this means that constructor functions that are also callable cannot use @constructor.
@this
The compiler can usually figure out the type of this when it has some context to work with. When it doesn’t, you can explicitly specify the type of this with @this:
jsTry/*** @this {HTMLElement}* @param {*} e*/functioncallbackForLater (e ) {this.clientHeight =parseInt (e ); // should be fine!}
Documentation
@deprecated
When a function, method, or property is deprecated you can let users know by marking it with a /** @deprecated */ JSDoc comment. That information is surfaced in completion lists and as a suggestion diagnostic that editors can handle specially. In an editor like VS Code, deprecated values are typically displayed in a strike-through style like this.
jsTry/** @deprecated */constapiV1 = {};constapiV2 = {};apiV ;
@see
@see lets you link to other names in your program:
tsTrytypeBox <T > = {t :T }/** @see Box for implementation details */typeBoxify <T > = { [K in keyofT ]:Box <T > };
Some editors will turn Box into a link to make it easy to jump there and back.
@link
@link is like @see, except that it can be used inside other tags:
tsTrytypeBox <T > = {t :T }/** @returns A {@link Box} containing the parameter. */functionbox <U >(u :U ):Box <U > {return {t :u };}
You can also link a property:
tsTrytypePet = {name : stringhello : () => string}/*** Note: you should implement the {@link Pet.hello} method of Pet.*/functionhello (p :Pet ) {p .hello ()}
Or with an optional name:
tsTrytypePet = {name : stringhello : () => string}/*** Note: you should implement the {@link Pet.hello | hello} method of Pet.*/functionhello (p :Pet ) {p .hello ()}
Other
@enum
The @enum tag allows you to create an object literal whose members are all of a specified type. Unlike most object literals in JavaScript, it does not allow other members.
@enum is intended for compatibility with Google Closure’s @enum tag.
jsTry/** @enum {number} */constJSDocState = {BeginningOfLine : 0,SawAsterisk : 1,SavingComments : 2,};JSDocState .SawAsterisk ;
Note that @enum is quite different from, and much simpler than, TypeScript’s enum. However, unlike TypeScript’s enums, @enum can have any type:
jsTry/** @enum {function(number): number} */constMathFuncs = {add1 : (n ) =>n + 1,id : (n ) => -n ,sub1 : (n ) =>n - 1,};MathFuncs .add1 ;
@author
You can specify the author of an item with @author:
tsTry/*** Welcome to awesome.ts* @author Ian Awesome <i.am.awesome@example.com>*/
Remember to surround the email address with angle brackets.
Otherwise, @example will be parsed as a new tag.
Other supported patterns
jsTryvarsomeObj = {/*** @param {string} param1 - JSDocs on property assignments work*/x : function (param1 ) {},};/*** As do jsdocs on variable assignments* @return {Window}*/letsomeFunc = function () {};/*** And class methods* @param {string} greeting The greeting to use*/Foo .prototype .sayHi = (greeting ) =>console .log ("Hi!");/*** And arrow function expressions* @param {number} x - A multiplier*/letmyArrow = (x ) =>x *x ;/*** Which means it works for function components in JSX too* @param {{a: string, b: number}} props - Some param*/varfc = (props ) => <div >{props .a .charAt (0)}</div >;/*** A parameter can be a class constructor, using Google Closure syntax.** @param {{new(...args: any[]): object}} C - The class to register*/functionregisterClass (C ) {}/*** @param {...string} p1 - A 'rest' arg (array) of strings. (treated as 'any')*/functionfn10 (p1 ) {}/*** @param {...string} p1 - A 'rest' arg (array) of strings. (treated as 'any')*/functionfn9 (p1 ) {returnp1 .join ();}
Unsupported patterns
Postfix equals on a property type in an object literal type doesn’t specify an optional property:
jsTry/*** @type {{ a: string, b: number= }}*/varwrong ;/*** Use postfix question on the property name instead:* @type {{ a: string, b?: number }}*/varright ;
Nullable types only have meaning if strictNullChecks is on:
jsTry/*** @type {?number}* With strictNullChecks: true -- number | null* With strictNullChecks: false -- number*/varnullable ;
The TypeScript-native syntax is a union type:
jsTry/*** @type {number | null}* With strictNullChecks: true -- number | null* With strictNullChecks: false -- number*/varunionNullable ;
Non-nullable types have no meaning and are treated just as their original type:
jsTry/*** @type {!number}* Just has type number*/varnormal ;
Unlike JSDoc’s type system, TypeScript only allows you to mark types as containing null or not.
There is no explicit non-nullability — if strictNullChecks is on, then number is not nullable.
If it is off, then number is nullable.
Unsupported tags
TypeScript ignores any unsupported JSDoc tags.
The following tags have open issues to support them:
@memberof(issue #7237)@yields(issue #23857)@member(issue #56674)
Legacy type synonyms
A number of common types are given aliases for compatibility with old JavaScript code.
Some of the aliases are the same as existing types, although most of those are rarely used.
For example, String is treated as an alias for string.
Even though String is a type in TypeScript, old JSDoc often uses it to mean string.
Besides, in TypeScript, the capitalized versions of primitive types are wrapper types — almost always a mistake to use.
So the compiler treats these types as synonyms based on usage in old JSDoc:
String -> stringNumber -> numberBoolean -> booleanVoid -> voidUndefined -> undefinedNull -> nullfunction -> Functionarray -> Array<any>promise -> Promise<any>Object -> anyobject -> any
The last four aliases are turned off when noImplicitAny: true:
objectandObjectare built-in types, althoughObjectis rarely used.arrayandpromiseare not built-in, but might be declared somewhere in your program.