TypeScript - constructor overloads / multiple constructors / many constructors

In this article, we're going to have a look at how to overload constructor in TypeScript. In TypeScript constructor oveloading looks different way than in C++, Java or C#. Main idea to overload constructor is to create common constructor that checks what king of parameters was used and later do some logic in case. Useful is to add constructors definitions to help other programmers to know how to use class in proper way.

Simple overview:

class MyClassName {

    public constructor(a : number);
    public constructor(a : number, b : number);
    public constructor(array : Array<number>);

    public constructor(...args : Array<any>) { // common constructor

        // checking arguments and executing proper scenario
        // or throw new Error('Constructor not supported!');
    }
}

// MyClassName usage here...

Check below practical example:

1. Multiple construcotors practical example

Constructor overloading requires to write some logic to detect which constructor has been used. public constructor(...args : Array<any>) contans common logic where depending of used arguments special case of object creating should be used.

class Point {
    private coordinates : Array<number>;

    public constructor(x : number, y : number);
    public constructor(x : number, y : number, z : number);
    public constructor(x : number, y : number, z : number, ...coordinates : Array<number>);
    public constructor(coordinates : Array<number>);

    public constructor(...args : Array<any>) { // common logic constructor
        if(args.length == 0)
            throw new Error('Arguments are not defined.');
    
        let arg = args[0];

        if(Array.isArray(arg)) {
            if(arg.length < 2)
                throw new Error('Minimum number of dimmensions is 2.');
        
            this.coordinates = arg;
        } else
            this.coordinates = args;
    }

    public getCoordinate(dimmension : number) : number {
        return this.coordinates[dimmension];
    }

    public toString() : string {
        let result = '{';

        if(this.coordinates.length > 0) {
            result += ' ' + this.coordinates[0];

            for(let i = 1; i < this.coordinates.length; ++i)
                result += ', ' + this.coordinates[i];
        }

        return result + ' }';
    }
}

let a = new Point(1, 2);
let b = new Point(1, 2, 3);
let c = new Point(1, 2, 3, 4);
let d = new Point([1, 2]);
let e = new Point([1, 2, 3]);
let f = new Point([1, 2, 3, 4]);

console.log(a.toString());
console.log(b.toString());
console.log(c.toString());
console.log(d.toString());
console.log(e.toString());
console.log(f.toString());

Output:

{ 1, 2 }
{ 1, 2, 3 }
{ 1, 2, 3, 4 }
{ 1, 2 }
{ 1, 2, 3 }
{ 1, 2, 3, 4 }

Note: big number of overloading can lead to big amount of mistakes so it is better to avoid this technic.

2. References

1. Methods Overloading - Microsoft Docs