Skip to main content

prefer-optional-chain

Enforce using concise optional chain expressions instead of chained logical ands.

TypeScript 3.7 added support for the optional chain operator. This operator allows you to safely access properties and methods on objects when they are potentially null or undefined.

type T = {
  a?: {
    b?: {
      c: string;
      method?: () => void;
    };
  };
};

function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return foo?.a?.b?.c;
}
// is roughly equivalent to
function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return foo && foo.a && foo.a.b && foo.a.b.c;
}
// or
function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return (((foo || {}).a || {}).b || {}).c;
}

function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return foo?.['a']?.b?.c;
}
// is roughly equivalent to
function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return foo && foo['a'] && foo['a'].b && foo['a'].b.c;
}

function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return foo?.a?.b?.method?.();
}
// is roughly equivalent to
function myFunc(foo: T | null) {
  return foo && foo.a && foo.a.b && foo.a.b.method && foo.a.b.method();
}

Because the optional chain operator only chains when the property value is null or undefined, it is much safer than relying upon logical AND operator chaining &&; which chains on any truthy value.

Attributes

  • Included in configs
    • ✅ Recommended
    • 🔒 Strict
  • Fixable
    • 🔧 Automated Fixer
    • 💡 Suggestion Fixer
  • 💭 Requires type information

Rule Details​

This rule aims enforce the usage of the safer operator.

Examples of code for this rule:

foo && foo.a && foo.a.b && foo.a.b.c;
foo && foo['a'] && foo['a'].b && foo['a'].b.c;
foo && foo.a && foo.a.b && foo.a.b.method && foo.a.b.method();

(((foo || {}).a || {}).b || {}).c;
(((foo || {})['a'] || {}).b || {}).c;

// this rule also supports converting chained strict nullish checks:
foo &&
  foo.a != null &&
  foo.a.b !== null &&
  foo.a.b.c != undefined &&
  foo.a.b.c.d !== undefined &&
  foo.a.b.c.d.e;

Options​

// .eslintrc.json
{
  "rules": {
    "@typescript-eslint/prefer-optional-chain": "warn"
  }
}

This rule is not configurable.

When Not To Use It​

If you are not using TypeScript 3.7 (or greater), then you will not be able to use this rule, as the operator is not supported.

Further Reading​