Can Node.js execute TypeScript code?

No, not directly. Node.js is a runtime environment for JavaScript. To run TypeScript code, it must be compiled into JavaScript beforehand using the TypeScript compiler (tsc).

Possible ways to run TypeScript in Node.js:

• Pre-compilation: Compile the entire project before running with the command tsc. Then run the resulting .js files using node.

  # Install the compiler
  npm install -g typescript
  # Compile
  tsc
  # Run
  node dist/index.js
  

• Using ts-node: A tool for running TypeScript without pre-compilation. It compiles files on the fly. Convenient for development and debugging.

  # Install
  npm install -D ts-node typescript @types/node
  # Run
  npx ts-node src/index.ts
  

• Using bundlers (Webpack, Parcel, esbuild): These tools can compile TypeScript and bundle code into one or more JavaScript files optimized for running in Node.js or the browser.

Thus, Node.js only executes JavaScript, but the TypeScript ecosystem tools allow seamless use of TypeScript in Node.js projects.