Use unknown Instead of any for Values with an Unknown Type

Overview

unknown is the type-safe cousin of any.

When you don't know a value's type, use unknown. It forces you to narrow the type before using it, preventing bugs that any would allow.

When to Use This Skill

• Parsing JSON or YAML
• Receiving data from external sources
• Working with user input
• Writing functions that accept anything
• Replacing any with something safer

The Iron Rule

NEVER use any when unknown would work.

No exceptions:

• Not for "unknown is more verbose"
• Not for "I know it's safe"
• Not for "I'll check at runtime anyway"

Detection: The "any for Unknown Data" Smell

If you're using any because you don't know the type, use unknown instead.

// ❌ VIOLATION: any allows dangerous operations
function parseYAML(yaml: string): any {
  // ...
}

const data = parseYAML('...');
data.foo.bar.baz();        // No error! But will crash
data('call me maybe');     // No error! But will crash

// ✅ CORRECT: unknown forces you to check first
function safeParseYAML(yaml: string): unknown {
  // ...
}

const data = safeParseYAML('...');
data.foo.bar.baz();        // Error: 'data' is of type 'unknown'
data('call me maybe');     // Error: 'data' is of type 'unknown'

any vs unknown: The Key Difference

Using unknown Safely

With Type Assertion (when you're confident)

interface Book {
  name: string;
  author: string;
}

const data = safeParseYAML(`
  name: Wuthering Heights
  author: Emily Bronte
`) as Book;  // You assert it's a Book

console.log(data.name);  // OK

With instanceof (for classes)

function processValue(value: unknown) {
  if (value instanceof Date) {
    value.toISOString();  // OK - value is Date
  }
}

With typeof (for primitives)

function processValue(value: unknown) {
  if (typeof value === 'string') {
    value.toUpperCase();  // OK - value is string
  }
  if (typeof value === 'number') {
    value.toFixed(2);     // OK - value is number
  }
}

With Type Guards (for custom checks)

interface Book {
  name: string;
  author: string;
}

function isBook(value: unknown): value is Book {
  return (
    typeof value === 'object' &&
    value !== null &&
    'name' in value &&
    'author' in value
  );
}

function processValue(value: unknown) {
  if (isBook(value)) {
    console.log(value.name, value.author);  // OK - value is Book
  }
}

Common Use Cases

JSON Parsing

// ❌ BAD: JSON.parse returns any by default
const data = JSON.parse(response);
data.anything.goes();  // No error, but might crash

// ✅ GOOD: Parse as unknown, then validate
function parseJSON(text: string): unknown {
  return JSON.parse(text);
}

const data = parseJSON(response);
if (isValidResponse(data)) {
  // Now data is the validated type
}

API Responses

// ❌ BAD: Trusting the response
async function fetchUser(id: string): Promise<any> {
  const response = await fetch(`/api/users/${id}`);
  return response.json();
}

// ✅ GOOD: Type unknown, validate before use
async function fetchUser(id: string): Promise<unknown> {
  const response = await fetch(`/api/users/${id}`);
  return response.json();
}

const user = await fetchUser('123');
if (isUser(user)) {
  console.log(user.name);  // Safe!
}

Generic "Accept Anything" Functions

// ❌ BAD: any loses all type info
function isSmallArray(arr: any[]): boolean {
  return arr.length < 10;
}

// ✅ GOOD: unknown[] is safer
function isSmallArray(arr: readonly unknown[]): boolean {
  return arr.length < 10;
}

Narrowing unknown

TypeScript requires proof before it lets you use unknown:

function process(value: unknown) {
  // Direct use: Error
  value.toString();  // Error: 'value' is of type 'unknown'
  
  // After null check
  if (value !== null && value !== undefined) {
    // Still unknown, but non-nullish
  }
  
  // After typeof check
  if (typeof value === 'string') {
    value.toUpperCase();  // OK: value is string
  }
  
  // After instanceof check
  if (value instanceof Date) {
    value.toISOString();  // OK: value is Date
  }
  
  // After type guard
  if (isBook(value)) {
    value.author;  // OK: value is Book
  }
}

object, {}, and unknown

// unknown is most broad - prefer it for "I don't know"
function acceptAnything(value: unknown) {}

// {} excludes null/undefined
function acceptNonNullish(value: {}) {}

// object excludes primitives
function acceptObject(value: object) {}

Pressure Resistance Protocol

1. "unknown Is Too Verbose"

Pressure: "I have to add checks everywhere"

Response: Those checks catch bugs. any would let bugs through.

Action: Write the checks. They're documentation too.

2. "I Know The Type At Runtime"

Pressure: "I check the type before using it"

Response: With unknown, TypeScript verifies your checks are correct.

Action: Use unknown and let TypeScript track your narrowing.

3. "JSON.parse Returns any"

Pressure: "The built-in function returns any"

Response: Wrap it in a function that returns unknown.

Action: Create a safeParseJSON helper that returns unknown.

Red Flags - STOP and Reconsider

• any for values from external sources
• any for parsed JSON/YAML
• any for API response bodies
• any just because "I don't know the type"
• Functions that accept any when they could accept unknown

Common Rationalizations (All Invalid)

Quick Reference

The Bottom Line

unknown says "I don't know this type." any says "I don't care about types."

Use unknown when you genuinely don't know a value's type. It forces you to narrow before use, catching bugs that any would miss. Your code will be safer and more explicit about where type information comes from.

Reference

Based on "Effective TypeScript" by Dan Vanderkam, Item 46: Use unknown Instead of any for Values with an Unknown Type.