microsoft / microsoft/TypeScript

"Find All References" shows all interface implementations instead of specific class method references

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Description

When using VS Code's **"Find All References"** on a class method that implements an interface method, the results include all instances where the method is defined (e.g., in the interface and other implementing classes). However, I expected it to show only references specific to the selected class implementation.

#### **Steps to Reproduce:**
1. Create a TypeScript file with the following code:
```ts
export declare interface Transform {
transform(value: any, ...args: any[]): any;
}

export class Bar implements Transform {
transform() {}
}

export class Baz implements Transform {
transform() {}
}
```
2. Right-click on the `transform` method inside the `Bar` class.
3. Select **"Find All References"** from the context menu.
4. The results include all occurrences of `transform`, including the interface definition and the implementation in `Baz`.

#### **Expected Behavior:**
VS Code should return only the references specific to `Bar`'s implementation of `transform`.

#### **Actual Behavior:**
The search includes all references to `transform` across the interface and other implementations, making it difficult to isolate usages of `Bar.transform`.

---

### Impact on "inferFromUsage"

The behavior also affects TypeScript's **"inferFromUsage"** feature:

```ts
export declare interface Transform {
transform(value: any, ...args: any[]): any;
}

export class Bar implements Transform {
transform(value) { } // <-- Inferred: value is a number
}

export class Baz implements Transform {
transform(value) { } // <-- Also inferred as a number, even though Baz is unused
}

new Bar().transform(1);
```

Since `Bar.transform(1)` is explicitly called, TypeScript infers `value` as a `number`. However, `Baz.transform` also gets the same inferred type **even though it's never used**. This suggests that TypeScript applies inference across all implementations of the interface, rather than treating them independently.

[[🔗 TypeScript AST Viewer](https://ts-ast-viewer.com/#code/KYDwDg9gTgLgBAE2AYwDYEMrDgSwHYzBQBm6y2AKlOngM7HQC2cA3gFBydwzV0NSMAFADd0qAK7AAXHBoBPADRwAdKswBzWjPkBtALoBKbXjkBuNgF82bUJFhw06WrTgAhTLkZhUwRsAIuVDT0TKwcXDzB-EKiEsAGrHBWVjbg0PCOzm7oAF6e3r7+MIG8IQJhXNyl0SJikgksSZbWeMAA7tlQggbKkXxMggCMBuZAA)](https://ts-ast-viewer.com/#code/KYDwDg9gTgLgBAE2AYwDYEMrDgSwHYzBQBm6y2AKlOngM7HQC2cA3gFBydwzV0NSMAFADd0qAK7AAXHBoBPADRwAdKswBzWjPkBtALoBKbXjkBuNgF82bUJFhw06WrTgAhTLkZhUwRsAIuVDT0TKwcXDzB-EKiEsAGrHBWVjbg0PCOzm7oAF6e3r7+MIG8IQJhXNyl0SJikgksSZbWeMAA7tlQggbKkXxMggCMBuZAA)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the TypeScript example with “Find All References” and the inferFromUsage case described in the issue. Trace how interface implementations are associated during reference lookup and usage inference, then add focused coverage showing that Bar.transform and Baz.transform are treated independently; done means the results and inferred types match the expected behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
typescript
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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