Why I Stopped Using Enums in TypeScript (I Use `as const` Instead)

📰 Dev.to · Maryan Mats

Learn why enums in TypeScript can be problematic and how to replace them with 'as const' objects and union types for better JavaScript compilation

intermediate Published 6 Apr 2026
Action Steps
  1. Identify existing enums in your TypeScript code
  2. Replace enums with 'as const' objects for better compile-time checking
  3. Use union types to ensure type safety
  4. Test and verify the compiled JavaScript output
  5. Refactor your code to take advantage of the new type system
Who Needs to Know This

Developers working with TypeScript can benefit from this knowledge to improve their code's performance and readability, especially when working with large-scale applications

Key Insight

💡 TypeScript enums can lead to unexpected JavaScript compilation, using 'as const' objects and union types can help avoid these issues

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Ditch TypeScript enums for 'as const' objects and union types to improve JS compilation #TypeScript #JavaScript

Key Takeaways

Learn why enums in TypeScript can be problematic and how to replace them with 'as const' objects and union types for better JavaScript compilation

Full Article

TypeScript enums compile into surprising JavaScript — IIFEs, reverse mappings, and tree-shaking problems. Here's why I switched to as const objects and union types, with real code examples and migration patterns.
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