Create a new object from type parameter in generic class

Question

To create a new object within generic code, you need to refer to the type by its constructor function. So instead of writing this:

function activatorNotWorking<T extends IActivatable>(type: T): T {
    return new T(); // compile error could not find symbol T
}

You need to write this:

function activator<T extends IActivatable>(type: { new(): T ;} ): T {
    return new type();
}

var classA: ClassA = activator(ClassA);

See this question: Generic Type Inference with Class Argument

Because the compiled JavaScript has all the type information erased, you can't use T to new up an object.

You can do this in a non-generic way by passing the type into the constructor.

class TestOne {
    hi() {
        alert('Hi');
    }
}

class TestTwo {
    constructor(private testType) {

    }
    getNew() {
        return new this.testType();
    }
}

var test = new TestTwo(TestOne);

var example = test.getNew();
example.hi();

You could extend this example using generics to tighten up the types:

class TestBase {
    hi() {
        alert('Hi from base');
    }
}

class TestSub extends TestBase {
    hi() {
        alert('Hi from sub');
    }
}

class TestTwo<T extends TestBase> {
    constructor(private testType: new () => T) {
    }

    getNew() : T {
        return new this.testType();
    }
}

//var test = new TestTwo<TestBase>(TestBase);
var test = new TestTwo<TestSub>(TestSub);

var example = test.getNew();
example.hi();

All type information is erased in JavaScript side and therefore you can't new up T just like @Sohnee states, but I would prefer having typed parameter passed in to constructor:

class A {
}

class B<T> {
    Prop: T;
    constructor(TCreator: { new (): T; }) {
        this.Prop = new TCreator();
    }
}

var test = new B<A>(A);

export abstract class formBase<T> extends baseClass {

  protected item = {} as T;
}

Its object will be able to receive any parameter, however, type T is only a typescript reference and can not be created through a constructor. That is, it will not create any class objects.

I know late but @TadasPa's answer can be adjusted a little by using

TCreator: new() => T

instead of

TCreator: { new (): T; }

so the result should look like this

class A {
}

class B<T> {
    Prop: T;
    constructor(TCreator: new() => T) {
        this.Prop = new TCreator();
    }
}

var test = new B<A>(A);

I was trying to instantiate the generic from within a base class. None of the above examples worked for me as they required a concrete type in order to call the factory method.

After researching for awhile on this and unable to find a solution online, I discovered that this appears to work.

 protected activeRow: T = {} as T;

The pieces:

 activeRow: T = {} <-- activeRow now equals a new object...

...

 as T; <-- As the type I specified. 

All together

 export abstract class GridRowEditDialogBase<T extends DataRow> extends DialogBase{ 
      protected activeRow: T = {} as T;
 }

That said, if you need an actual instance you should use:

export function getInstance<T extends Object>(type: (new (...args: any[]) => T), ...args: any[]): T {
      return new type(...args);
}


export class Foo {
  bar() {
    console.log("Hello World")
  }
}
getInstance(Foo).bar();

If you have arguments, you can use.

export class Foo2 {
  constructor(public arg1: string, public arg2: number) {

  }

  bar() {
    console.log(this.arg1);
    console.log(this.arg2);
  }
}
getInstance(Foo, "Hello World", 2).bar();