Building Robust TypeScript Functions with Lodash: A Deep Dive

Introduction

If you’re a web developer, chances are you’ve heard about lodash, the JavaScript utility library that simplifies array, string, object, and other types of operations. But did you know you can leverage its power within TypeScript to write optimized and robust functions?

Today, we’ll go through a real-world use case: building a TypeScript function for string manipulation and search. This article aims to be beneficial for anyone wanting to apply best practices, inspired by Agile software development, to their TypeScript codebase.

Why Choose Lodash Over Native or Custom Utility Functions?

When working on web development projects, especially those following Agile methodologies, you might wonder why you should opt for a third-party library like lodash when JavaScript already provides native methods. Alternatively, you might consider building your own utility functions for greater control.

Code Readability and Maintainability
Lodash methods are generally self-explanatory and have been built keeping readability in mind. For instance, methods like `_.isEmpty`, `_.isNil`, or `_.groupBy` quickly tell a developer what the method is likely to do, which in turn makes code more maintainable — a core principle in Agile development.

Functionality
Lodash offers a plethora of utility functions that JavaScript…