Learn TypeScript in Construct, part 8: Objects

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Published on 11 Jul, 2025.

String properties

Object properties can also use a string for their name. This is not possible with variables, so is a special capability for properties. Here's an example using a string for a property name.

let myObject = {
	// Use a string for a property name
	"myProperty": 5
};

// This is equivalent to:
let myObject = {
	myProperty: 5
};

Normally property names have similar naming rules to variables: no spaces, no special characters, and so on. However using a string lets you use any name. For example you cannot use a space or exclamation mark in a property name unless you use a string for the property name.

// String properties allow spaces and special characters
let myObject = {
	"my property!": 5
};

// Normal properties don't allow this
let myObject = {
	// Syntax error
	my property!: 5
};

You also need to use a string when assigning or retrieving a property with a name like this, as the normal dot syntax also can't be used for the same reason - it wouldn't be valid syntax for TypeScript code. To access a string property, square brackets [ and ] are used instead of a dot, with the string in between.

let myObject = {
	"my property!": 5
};

// Assign to a string property
myObject["my property!"] = 7;

// Read a string property
console.log(myObject["my property!"]); // 7

Providing the property has a valid name, you can access it both ways: with a dot or with a string.

let myObject = {
	myProperty: 5
};

// Read with dot property
console.log(myObject.myProperty); // 5

// Read with string property
console.log(myObject["myProperty"]); // 5

This is essentially just an alternative syntax for accessing object properties. It allows more flexibility with property names, but we'd suggest using the standard syntax instead, as it is a bit more convenient to write.

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