Exhaustive switches & never checks
Write exhaustive unions with switch and catch missing cases using never; build a safe assertNever helper.
Exhaustive switches & never checks is a free TypeScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 1 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the TypeScript Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.
Intro
Goal: Make exhaustive switches over unions and use never to catch missing cases at compile-time.
Exhaustive switch
Discriminated unions use a common kind field. A switch on that field narrows each case safely.
type Circle = { kind: "circle"; radius: number }
type Square = { kind: "square"; size: number }
type Shape = Circle | Square
function area(s: Shape): number {
switch (s.kind) {
case "circle":
return Math.PI * s.radius * s.radius
case "square":
return s.size * s.size
}
}When unions grow
When a new member (e.g. triangle) is added, we will catch it with never so that the skipped case does not silently generate a bug.
type Triangle = { kind: "triangle"; base: number; height: number }
// If we extend Shape but forget to add case, we want a compile-time error
// type Shape = Circle | Square | TriangleassertNever
The assertNever parameter must be of type never, so that if a new variant falls into the default, it will give a compile error.
function assertNever(x: never): never {
throw new Error(`Unhandled case: ${String(x)}`)
}
function areaSafe(s: Shape): number {
switch (s.kind) {
case "circle":
return Math.PI * s.radius * s.radius
case "square":
return s.size * s.size
default:
return assertNever(s) // if Shape grows, compiler errors here
}
}Literal unions
The same pattern applies to string literal unions: cover every possible value, call assertNever on the default.
type Status = "idle" | "loading" | "success" | "error"
function toIcon(s: Status) {
switch (s) {
case "idle": return "⏸"
case "loading": return "⏳"
case "success": return "✅"
case "error": return "⚠️"
default: return assertNever(s)
}
}
// Alternative: const check
const _check: never = ((): Status => "idle")() as never // force compile-time check with careTips
Tips: Turn on noFallthroughCasesInSwitch; prefer discriminated unions; default is only for assertNever.
// Tips
// - Enable noFallthroughCasesInSwitch in tsconfig for safer switches
// - Prefer discriminated unions over boolean flags
// - Keep default branch only to call assertNever; avoid swallowing casesassertNever check
Quick check: What is the purpose of assertNever in an exhaustive switch?
Recap
Recap: Discriminated unions + exhaustive switch = safer code. never and assertNever catch missed cases in compilation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “Exhaustive switches & never checks” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Exhaustive switches & never checks” is free to read here on the web. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the TypeScript Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO. The TypeScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.
What will I learn in “Exhaustive switches & never checks”?
Write exhaustive unions with switch and catch missing cases using never; build a safe assertNever helper. You practise TypeScript Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start TypeScript Academy?
No prior experience is required. TypeScript Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 1 of 3.
How long does the “Exhaustive switches & never checks” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this TypeScript Academy lesson?
Yes. Every TypeScript Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Exhaustive switches & never checks
- Predicate functions & satisfies operator
- Refining unions across function boundaries