TypeScript · Senior · Question 68 of 75

Why should a public library avoid `enum` in its API?

✓Correct answer: Enums are nominal and emit runtime code; consumers must import the enum and can't pass equivalent string literals
2Enums are slower than objects
3Enums don't work in .d.ts

Explanation

A union of string literals (with an as const object if you need runtime values) is erasable and friendlier to consumers.

Further reading

Test yourself

Take the TypeScript · Senior quiz: questions and options are shuffled, and you get a review of your mistakes at the end.