tRPC

End-to-end typesafe APIs for TypeScript — no codegen, shared types client to server.

Overview

tRPC is a framework for building fully typesafe APIs in TypeScript without requiring schemas or code generation. It leverages TypeScript's type inference to automatically provide end-to-end type safety between client and server, catching API contract mismatches at build time rather than runtime.

The framework combines concepts from REST and GraphQL, offering a lightweight alternative to traditional API layers. With zero runtime dependencies and a tiny client-side footprint, tRPC enables rapid full-stack development with automatic autocompletion and type checking across the client-server boundary. It works standalone or can be mounted as an endpoint on existing REST APIs through its extensive ecosystem of adapters for popular frameworks like Next.js, Express, Fastify, and many others.

Key features

End-to-end type safety without code generation
Automatic client autocompletion and intellisense
Zero runtime dependencies
Framework agnostic with adapters for Next.js, Express, Fastify, and more
Support for queries, mutations, and subscriptions
Request batching
Input validation with Zod, Yup, or Valibot
Real-time subscriptions support

Pros

No build or compile steps required
Tiny bundle size and lightweight
Snappy developer experience with instant feedback
Works with existing projects and brownfield codebases
Extensive adapter ecosystem for popular frameworks
Type inference catches errors before runtime

Cons

Requires TypeScript (>=5.7.2) and strict mode recommended
Tightly couples client and server code in monorepo structure
Not suitable for public APIs without OpenAPI adapters
Learning curve for developers unfamiliar with TypeScript inference patterns

Use this if

You're building a full-stack TypeScript application and want automatic type safety across client-server boundaries without code generation or traditional API layers.

Skip this if

You need to build public REST APIs, are not using TypeScript, or require strict separation between frontend and backend repositories.

Best for

Full-stack TypeScript projectsRapid API development with type safetyMonorepo applicationsTeams prioritizing developer experienceProjects avoiding traditional REST/GraphQL overhead

Alternatives

GraphQLREST APIstRPC alternatives like Remix loadersOpenAPI/Swagger for public APIs

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