Understanding TypeScript Data Types

TypeScript is a strongly typed super-set of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. It offers static typing, which allows us to define the type of a variable at the time of declaration. This feature brings several benefits, such as better code structuring, more effective error handling, improved IDE tooling support, and of course, compile-time error checking.

Among the several data types available in TypeScript such as boolean, number, string, array, tuple, enum, any, void, and others, there is one type that doesn't exist - the 'character' data type. Although JavaScript and TypeScript do allow for manipulation of characters inside strings, there is no standalone 'character' data type like there is in some other languages like C or Java.

A look into TypeScript's basic data types:

1. Number: TypeScript supports binary, decimal, hexadecimal, and octal literals. It also supports the NaN value and infinity mathematical calculations.

   Example: let decimal: number = 6;

2. String: In TypeScript, we use the string data type to represent textual data. We can use double quotes " " or single quotes ' ' around literal strings. Also, template literals, surrounded by back-ticks ( ), can be used to span a string across multiple lines and embed expressions.

   Example: let greeting: string = 'Hello, TypeScript!';

3. Boolean: This simple data type can only have two values: true or false.

   Example: let isDone: boolean = false;

As seen from the examples, 'character' is not recognized as a standalone data type in TypeScript. If we need to save or manipulate a single character, we have to use the string data type, which might seem inconvenient compared to languages with a distinct 'character' type. But in JavaScript's (and therefore TypeScript's) design, it fits well given that in most cases, working directly with individual characters is not a common requirement like it might be in C or Java.

In conclusion, while TypeScript greatly extends the possibilities of working with types beyond what's possible in plain JavaScript, it doesn't include a 'character' type separately from the 'string' type. This reflects TypeScript's goal to be a JavaScript super-set, staying true to JavaScript's original behavior and design choices.