How do you type functions, including optional and default parameters?

Question

Accepted Answer

You type parameters and the return value, and TypeScript supports optional, default, and rest parameters.

```ts
// basic
function add(a: number, b: number): number { return a + b; }

// optional parameter (?) — must come after required ones
function greet(name: string, title?: string): string {
  return title ? `${title} ${name}` : name; // title is string | undefined
}

// default parameter — implies optional
function inc(n: number, by: number = 1): number { return n + by; }

// rest parameter — typed as an array
function sum(...nums: number[]): number {
  return nums.reduce((a, n) => a + n, 0);
}
```

## Function type expressions

You can describe a function's *signature* as a type — useful for callbacks and variables holding functions:

```ts
type BinaryOp = (a: number, b: number) => number;
const multiply: BinaryOp = (a, b) => a * b; // params inferred from BinaryOp

// callback parameter
function apply(op: (x: number) => number, val: number) { return op(val); }
```

## Overloads (multiple signatures)

```ts
function parse(x: string): number;
function parse(x: number): string;
function parse(x: any): any { return typeof x === "string" ? +x : String(x); }
```

## Why it matters

Typing functions precisely is the core of TypeScript's value — callers get checked arguments and known return types, optional/default params model real-world flexibility, and function type aliases make higher-order code (callbacks, event handlers, middleware) self-documenting and safe.