Understanding How TypeScript Enhances Debugging Compared to JavaScript

TypeScript, a strongly-typed superset of JavaScript, brings a lot of benefits for JavaScript developers in terms of code maintainability, readability, and most importantly, debugging. The principal advantage of TypeScript over plain JavaScript lies in TypeScript's ability to offer more detailed error messages during compile time.

In plain JavaScript, code execution and error checking occur at runtime. This means if there's an error in the code, it wouldn't be spotted until the code is executed. This feature can lead to potential run-time errors and system crashes that could be otherwise avoided.

In contrast, TypeScript introduces a compile-time type checking process that checks the types of variables, functions, and objects. This type checking helps to catch and flag errors before the code gets executed or even deployed. TypeScript's static type system provides additional syntax for accurately defining data structure templates, therefore reducing the likelihood of bugs.

To provide a practical example:

function sum(a: number, b: number){
  return a + b;
}

let total = sum(5, '10'); //Error: Argument of type string not assignable to parameter of type number

In the above TypeScript code, we have a function sum that expects two arguments of type number. However, at the point of calling the function, one of the arguments passed in is a string. During the code compilation, TypeScript will flag this as an error before the code gets executed or deployed, thereby saving you debugging time and preventing potential runtime errors.

Best practices suggest adapting TypeScript in larger code bases where many developers collaborate as it aids in maintaining consistency and ensuring type safety throughout the project. These features help developers understand the structure and data types being used across various parts of the application, thereby enhancing debugging by providing more clear and detailed error messages during compile time.

In conclusion, TypeScript’s type-checking feature helps identify potential errors early, which not only improves the debugging experience but also enhances code quality, readability and maintainability-a significant benefit that sets TypeScript apart from plain JavaScript.