Incorrectly reported `TS2322` error on array items after spread

🔎 Search Terms

"array spread", "TS2322"

🕗 Version & Regression Information

• This is the behavior in every version I tried, and I reviewed the FAQ for entries about

⏯ Playground Link

https://www.typescriptlang.org/play?#code/MYewdgzgLgBAhgLhgQQE6rgTwDxgK4C2ARgKaowA+M0qAlmAOYB8MAvDANoC6A3AFChIsIkjQYc+YmRbsOAOgVwANDACMvIA

💻 Code

const a: Array<number | string> = [];
const b: Array<number> = [...a, 1];

🙁 Actual behavior

The compiler gives the following two errors, of which only one is appropriate:

~/prog/typescript ❯ tsc ./array-spread-error.ts
array-spread-error.ts:2:27 - error TS2322: Type 'string | number' is not assignable to type 'number'.
  Type 'string' is not assignable to type 'number'.

2 const b: Array<number> = [...a, 1];
                            ~~~~

array-spread-error.ts:2:33 - error TS2322: Type 'string | number' is not assignable to type 'number'.
  Type 'string' is not assignable to type 'number'.

2 const b: Array<number> = [...a, 1];
                                  ~

🙂 Expected behavior

The spread is clearly incorrect, as the original array could potentially contain strings as well, but the number literal should not be marked with the same error.

Start with the linked TypeScript Playground repro and confirm that the spread and the following numeric literal produce separate TS2322 diagnostics. Trace the checker path for array literals with spread elements and add a regression test showing that only the invalid spread is reported, while the numeric literal is accepted.