TypeDoc Tutorial: The Complete Guide to TypeScript Documentation in 2026

TypeDoc is the industry-standard documentation generator for TypeScript. It converts comments in your source code into a professional HTML website. Unlike JSDoc, which relies on manual tag maintenance, TypeDoc leverages the TypeScript compiler to understand your types, ensuring your documentation always reflects your actual code structure.

Key Benefits for TypeScript Developers

• Accuracy: Inherits types automatically from your code. If you change a type, the docs update without you needing to edit a comment.
• Searchability: Generates a client-side search index for instant navigation.
• 2026 Readiness: Full support for modern TS features like Decorators, Template Literal Types, and ESM.

TypeDoc vs. JSDoc: The Main Differences

While JSDoc requires you to duplicate type information (e.g., @param {string} name), TypeDoc knows that name is a string. You only need to provide the description. This "Source of Truth" approach is what makes TypeDoc superior in 2026.

Local Installation via NPM/Yarn

npm install typedoc --save-dev

Creating a typedoc.json Configuration File

To keep your build scripts clean, create a typedoc.json file in your project root. This is our recommended 2026 template:

{
  "entryPoints": ["src/index.ts"],
  "out": "docs",
  "theme": "default",
  "plugin": ["typedoc-plugin-markdown"],
  "exclude": ["**/*.spec.ts", "node_modules"],
  "name": "My Project API",
  "includeVersion": true
}

Choosing Themes and Layouts

In 2026, TypeDoc supports multiple rendering engines. You can stick with the standard HTML theme or use plugins to generate Markdown for GitHub Pages or static site generators like Docusaurus.

Documenting Classes, Interfaces, and Types

When documenting complex data structures like TypeScript dictionary examples in TypeDoc, refer to our guide on how to use index signatures effectively.

For enterprise applications, especially those using Angular Material components, we recommend the following strategies:

• Use @category tags to group related components.
• Integrate TypeDoc into your CI/CD pipeline (e.g., GitHub Actions).
• Enable --validation to catch missing documentation items.