🔀 Merge feature/tagged-union-matcher into main

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- add `getTaggedUnionMatcher` / `getTaggedUnionMatcherW` for discriminated unions
+
 ## [0.5.0] - 2026-09-21
 
 - reject a fallback when the handler map already covers the universe

backlog.tasks

@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ Testing:
     ✔ Rewrite `src/util/__tests__/lsp-completion.ts` onto `createMessageConnection` and typed requests @done
     ✔ Update `development/testing.md § Autocomplete` for the new client @done
     ✔ Run `npm run verify` and check the task off @done
+☐ Test a literal union widened with `(string & {})` — `"red" | "green" | "yellow" | (string & {})` @medium
+    → autocomplete should still offer the literals; arbitrary strings stay assignable and fall through to the fallback
 
 Matcher:
 ✔ Clean up: adopt the 3-overload matcher (`src/prototype-ac2.ts`) and delete the prototypes @high @done
@@ -46,6 +48,13 @@ Matcher:
     → the fallback is now a second argument: `(handlers, (s) => …)`, `s: Exclude<T, keyof handlers>`
 ✔ A fallback for an already-exhaustive handler map must be a compile error @medium @done
     → rejected by an F-bounded constraint on `Handled` (checked *after* inference); a conditional in the fallback parameter is evaluated too early and breaks contextual typing
+✔ Implement matcher with similar API like matcher from primitive.ts @high @done
+    → `getTaggedUnionMatcher` / `getTaggedUnionMatcherW`, curried on the discriminant key
+    → fallback is the second argument; `_` removed
+☐ Rename `primitive` to `primitive-union` and `getMatcher` to `getPrimitiveMatcher` @medium
+    → `src/primitive.ts` / `src/primitive.test.ts` → `primitive-union.*`
+    → `getMatcherW` → `getPrimitiveMatcherW` for symmetry with the tagged-union pair
+    → update `src/index.ts`, `development/library.md` and any README references
 
 Bugs:
 ✔ TS 7 LSP server logs `context canceled` on stderr at shutdown @done
@@ -55,6 +64,8 @@ Enhancements:
 ✔ Allow boolean literals in primitive union patterns (e.g. `true: () => "yes"`) @medium @done
     ✔ Are there other primitive types that should be supported in union patterns? (e.g. `bigint`, `symbol`) @medium @done
         → added boolean, null and undefined; rejected `symbol` (compile-time brand, nothing at runtime) and `bigint` (not a property key)
+☐ Allow boolean, null and undefined discriminant values in tagged-union patterns @medium
+    → needs the primitive matcher's `PatternKey` / `PatternParam` projection; see development/library.md § Tagged-union matcher
 
 Documentation:
 ☐ Bring README.md back to its previous form — synopsis and examples restored, in the correct place

development/library.md

@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 The type-level design of the public API and the limitations it carries. The
 user-facing reference is [README § API](../README.md#api).
 
-The matcher is implemented in `src/primitive.ts` and re-exported from
+The matchers are implemented in `src/primitive.ts` (`getMatcher` /
-`src/index.ts` as `getMatcher` / `getMatcherW`; the rest of the library is
+`getMatcherW`) and `src/tagged-union.ts` (`getTaggedUnionMatcher` /
-placeholder code.
+`getTaggedUnionMatcherW`), re-exported from `src/index.ts`; the rest of the
+library is placeholder code.
 
 ## Matcher shape
 
@@ -92,6 +93,75 @@ Each factory is two overloads whose order is load-bearing:
   not a sound "rejected" oracle for a factory. Factory-negative tests use
   `@ts-expect-error` call sites (the test file only — the general ban stands).
 
+## Shared internals
+
+#### Decision (2026-09)
+
+`src/matcher-shared.ts` holds the four universe-agnostic pieces both matchers
+use: `UnaryFn`, `PatternReturns`, `RedundantFallback`, `HandlerMap`.
+
+#### Why
+
+- `RedundantFallback`'s property name is the diagnostic, so one definition
+  keeps the two matchers' message from drifting; the other three appear verbatim
+  in both public signatures.
+
+#### Rejected
+
+- **A generic `Matcher<Universe>` over the interface pair, `Handlers`,
+  `Fallback` and `MustBePartial`.** Each is built from its own universe
+  (`PatternKey`/`PatternParam` vs `Tags`/`MapTaggedUnion`); abstracting over the
+  F-bounded `Handled` constraint that makes the remainder work risks the
+  contextual typing it exists to preserve.
+
+## Tagged-union matcher
+
+#### Decision (2026-09)
+
+`getTaggedUnionMatcher` / `getTaggedUnionMatcherW` mirror the primitive pair
+with one extra curried step for the discriminant key:
+
+```ts
+type Shape =
+    | { kind: "circle"; radius: number }
+    | { kind: "square"; side: number };
+
+const area = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind")({
+    circle: (s) => Math.PI * s.radius ** 2,
+    square: (s) => s.side ** 2,
+});
+const fallback = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind")(
+    { circle: (s) => … },
+    (s) => …, // s: { kind: "square"; side: number }
+);
+```
+
+The key is a separate call because `K` is inferred from its literal argument and
+`T` is fixed by the first factory; one call could not infer both.
+`Discriminated<T>` restricts the key to properties whose values are tags.
+
+#### Why
+
+- **Same fallback/remainder machinery as the primitive matcher.** `HandledMembers`
+  maps the handled tags to their members and `Exclude<T, …>` is the fallback's
+  parameter; the redundant-fallback guard is the same F-bounded constraint. Only
+  the "universe" changes — `T`'s members instead of primitive values.
+- **`T extends object`, not `Record<PropertyKey, unknown>`.** An `interface` has
+  no implicit index signature, so the `Record` constraint would reject
+  interface-based unions. The runtime reads the tag off `object` with one
+  assertion, the tagged twin of the primitive dispatch's `shape as string | number`.
+- **`MapTaggedUnion` distributes with `Extract`.** A duplicated tag yields a
+  union of members instead of dropping one.
+
+#### Known issue
+
+- Tags are `string | number` only. A `boolean` / `null` / `undefined`
+  discriminant (`{ ok: true } | { ok: false }`) is rejected by `Discriminated`,
+  because those values are not property keys; supporting them needs the
+  primitive matcher's `PatternKey` / `PatternParam` projection.
+- A member's tag must be unique across the union; two members with the same tag
+  collapse to a union under one handler.
+
 ## Primitive universe
 
 #### Decision (2026-09)

src/index.ts

@@ -1 +1,5 @@
 export { getMatcher, getMatcherW } from "./primitive.ts";
+export {
+    getTaggedUnionMatcher,
+    getTaggedUnionMatcherW,
+} from "./tagged-union.ts";

src/matcher-shared.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import type { ValueOf } from "type-fest";
+
+// The primitive and tagged-union matchers differ in their universe, but the
+// handler/fallback plumbing is identical; these are the shared pieces. The
+// boundary is deliberate: `Handlers`, `Fallback` and `MustBePartial` stay with
+// each matcher because they are built from its universe. See development/library.md.
+
+// A handler: one universe member in, one return value out.
+export type UnaryFn<T, R> = (shape: T) => R;
+
+// `Extract` drops optional handlers (`undefined`) so `PatternReturns` also works
+// when `P`'s constraint has optional keys.
+export type PatternReturns<P> = ReturnType<
+    Extract<ValueOf<P>, (...args: never[]) => unknown>
+>;
+
+// The diagnostic raised when a fallback is supplied for an already-exhaustive
+// handler map. Each matcher's `MustBePartial` folds it into `Handled`'s
+// constraint so the guard is checked after inference.
+export interface RedundantFallback {
+    readonly "every case is already handled, so the fallback is redundant": never;
+}
+
+// The runtime dispatch map the handler maps and fallback erase to.
+export type HandlerMap = Record<
+    string | number,
+    UnaryFn<never, unknown> | undefined
+>;

src/primitive.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
-import type { Exact, ValueOf } from "type-fest";
+import type { Exact } from "type-fest";
 
-type UnaryFn<T, R> = (shape: T) => R;
+import type {
+    HandlerMap,
+    PatternReturns,
+    RedundantFallback,
+    UnaryFn,
+} from "./matcher-shared.ts";
 
 // The primitive universe a matcher can discriminate. `boolean` is admitted as
 // the pair `true | false`; see README § Caveats for the unsupported members.
@@ -29,12 +34,6 @@ type PatternParam<K> = K extends "true"
           ? undefined
           : K;
 
-// `Extract` drops optional handlers (`undefined`) so `PatternReturns` also works
-// when `P`'s constraint has optional keys.
-type PatternReturns<P> = ReturnType<
-    Extract<ValueOf<P>, (...args: never[]) => unknown>
->;
-
 type Handlers<T extends Matchable, R> = {
     [K in PatternKey<T>]: UnaryFn<PatternParam<K>, R>;
 };
@@ -58,9 +57,6 @@ type Fallback<T extends Matchable, Handled, R> = UnaryFn<
 // failure is reported on the argument that inferred `Handled` (the handler
 // map), so the required property is spelled as the message instead of relying
 // on its position. See development/library.md.
-interface RedundantFallback {
-    readonly "every case is already handled, so the fallback is redundant": never;
-}
 type MustBePartial<T extends Matchable, Handled> =
     PatternKey<T> extends keyof Handled ? RedundantFallback : unknown;
 
@@ -104,8 +100,6 @@ interface MatcherWidening<T extends Matchable> {
 }
 // oxlint-enable typescript/unified-signatures
 
-type HandlerMap = Record<string | number, UnaryFn<never, unknown> | undefined>;
-
 const dispatch =
     (handlers: HandlerMap, fallback?: UnaryFn<never, unknown>) =>
     (shape: Matchable): unknown =>

src/tagged-union.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,452 @@
+import { strict as assert } from "node:assert";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { test } from "node:test";
+
+import { expectTypeOf } from "expect-type";
+
+import {
+    type CompletionTarget,
+    LspSession,
+} from "#test-utils/lsp-completion.ts";
+
+import {
+    getTaggedUnionMatcher,
+    getTaggedUnionMatcherW,
+} from "./tagged-union.ts";
+
+interface Circle {
+    readonly kind: "circle";
+    readonly radius: number;
+}
+interface Square {
+    readonly kind: "square";
+    readonly side: number;
+}
+interface Triangle {
+    readonly kind: "triangle";
+    readonly base: number;
+    readonly height: number;
+}
+type Shape = Circle | Square | Triangle;
+
+// ============================================================================
+// API: getTaggedUnionMatcher — ✔️ Exhaustive / ✔️ ReturnsStrict
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher: exhaustive pattern infers one common return type", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind");
+
+    // Act
+    const area = factory({
+        circle: (s) => {
+            // Each handler receives the member its tag selects, not the union.
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Circle>();
+            assert.equal(s.kind, "circle");
+            return Math.PI * s.radius ** 2;
+        },
+        square: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Square>();
+            assert.equal(s.kind, "square");
+            return s.side ** 2;
+        },
+        triangle: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Triangle>();
+            assert.equal(s.kind, "triangle");
+            return (s.base * s.height) / 2;
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    // ✔️ ReturnsStrict: R is the best common return type, not a widening union.
+    expectTypeOf(area).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: Shape) => number>();
+    assert.equal(area({ kind: "square", side: 2 }), 4);
+    assert.equal(area({ kind: "triangle", base: 2, height: 3 }), 3);
+});
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher: dispatches on numeric tags", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    type Version =
+        | { readonly kind: 1; readonly a: number }
+        | {
+              readonly kind: 2;
+              readonly b: number;
+          };
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Version>()("kind");
+
+    // Act
+    const pick = factory({
+        1: (v) => {
+            expectTypeOf(v).toEqualTypeOf<{
+                readonly kind: 1;
+                readonly a: number;
+            }>();
+            assert.equal(v.kind, 1);
+            return v.a;
+        },
+        2: (v) => {
+            expectTypeOf(v).toEqualTypeOf<{
+                readonly kind: 2;
+                readonly b: number;
+            }>();
+            assert.equal(v.kind, 2);
+            return v.b;
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(pick).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: Version) => number>();
+    assert.equal(pick({ kind: 1, a: 10 }), 10);
+    assert.equal(pick({ kind: 2, b: 20 }), 20);
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// API: getTaggedUnionMatcher — ❌ Exhaustive (fallback) / ✔️ ReturnsStrict
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher: a fallback receives the unhandled members", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind");
+
+    // Act
+    const area = factory(
+        {
+            circle: (s) => {
+                expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Circle>();
+                assert.equal(s.kind, "circle");
+                return 1 as const;
+            },
+        },
+        (s) => {
+            // The fallback sees only the members `circle` did not handle.
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Square | Triangle>();
+            assert.ok(s.kind === "square" || s.kind === "triangle");
+            return 2 as const;
+        },
+    );
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(area).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: Shape) => 1 | 2>();
+    assert.equal(area({ kind: "circle", radius: 1 }), 1);
+    assert.equal(area({ kind: "square", side: 1 }), 2);
+    assert.equal(area({ kind: "triangle", base: 1, height: 1 }), 2);
+});
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher: an open discriminant keeps the fallback open", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    interface Message {
+        readonly kind: string;
+        readonly text: string;
+    }
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Message>()("kind");
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({ info: () => 1 as const }, (s) => {
+        // The map's literal key does not close an open discriminant, so the
+        // remainder stays `Message` and the fallback is not redundant.
+        expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Message>();
+        assert.equal(typeof s.text, "string");
+        return 2 as const;
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: Message) => 1 | 2>();
+    assert.equal(matcher({ kind: "info", text: "" }), 1);
+    assert.equal(matcher({ kind: "warn", text: "" }), 2);
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// API: getTaggedUnionMatcherW — ✔️ Exhaustive / ❌ ReturnsStrict
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcherW: exhaustive pattern widens to the union of returns", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcherW<Shape>()("kind");
+
+    // Act
+    const describe = factory({
+        circle: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Circle>();
+            assert.equal(s.kind, "circle");
+            return "round" as const;
+        },
+        square: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Square>();
+            assert.equal(s.kind, "square");
+            return 4 as const;
+        },
+        triangle: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Triangle>();
+            assert.equal(s.kind, "triangle");
+            return true as const;
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    // ❌ ReturnsStrict: mixed handler returns widen to their union.
+    expectTypeOf(describe).toEqualTypeOf<
+        (shape: Shape) => "round" | 4 | true
+    >();
+    assert.equal(describe({ kind: "circle", radius: 1 }), "round");
+    assert.equal(describe({ kind: "square", side: 1 }), 4);
+    assert.equal(describe({ kind: "triangle", base: 1, height: 1 }), true);
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// API: getTaggedUnionMatcherW — ❌ Exhaustive (fallback) / ❌ ReturnsStrict
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcherW: a fallback widens gaps into the union", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcherW<Shape>()("kind");
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({ circle: () => 1 as const }, (s) => {
+        expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<Square | Triangle>();
+        // Returning the member verbatim lets the `Assert` block check the
+        // exact value dispatch passed.
+        return s;
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<
+        (shape: Shape) => 1 | Square | Triangle
+    >();
+    assert.equal(matcher({ kind: "circle", radius: 1 }), 1);
+    assert.deepEqual(matcher({ kind: "square", side: 1 }), {
+        kind: "square",
+        side: 1,
+    });
+    assert.deepEqual(matcher({ kind: "triangle", base: 1, height: 1 }), {
+        kind: "triangle",
+        base: 1,
+        height: 1,
+    });
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Factory contracts — calls that must not compile
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher factory rejects patterns outside its contract", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Shape>()("kind");
+
+    // Act / Assert — the calls below must not compile
+    factory({
+        circle: () => 1,
+        square: () => 2,
+        triangle: () => 3,
+        // @ts-expect-error `hexagon` is not a tag of Shape
+        hexagon: () => 4,
+    });
+    // @ts-expect-error a gap without a fallback is not exhaustive
+    factory({ circle: () => 1 });
+    // @ts-expect-error a `string` fallback does not fit the `number` handlers
+    factory({ circle: () => 1 }, () => "x");
+    // @ts-expect-error a fallback is redundant once the map covers the union
+    factory({ circle: () => 1, square: () => 2, triangle: () => 3 }, () => 0);
+});
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher factory rejects a non-discriminant key", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    type Mixed =
+        | { readonly id: Date; readonly kind: "a" }
+        | { readonly id: Date; readonly kind: "b" };
+
+    // Act / Assert — the calls below must not compile
+    // @ts-expect-error `id` is a common key but its value is not a tag
+    getTaggedUnionMatcher<Mixed>()("id");
+    getTaggedUnionMatcher<Mixed>()("kind");
+});
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcherW factory rejects patterns outside its contract", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = getTaggedUnionMatcherW<Shape>()("kind");
+
+    // Act / Assert — the calls below must not compile
+    factory({
+        circle: () => 1 as const,
+        square: () => 2 as const,
+        triangle: () => 3 as const,
+        // @ts-expect-error `hexagon` is not a tag of Shape
+        hexagon: () => 4 as const,
+    });
+    // @ts-expect-error a gap without a fallback is not exhaustive
+    factory({ circle: () => 1 as const });
+    factory(
+        // @ts-expect-error a fallback is redundant once the map covers the union
+        {
+            circle: () => 1 as const,
+            square: () => 2 as const,
+            triangle: () => 3 as const,
+        },
+        () => 0,
+    );
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Dispatch — runtime behavior
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("getTaggedUnionMatcher: an unhandled tag throws without a fallback", () => {
+    // Arrange — an open discriminant widens its handler map to an index
+    // signature, so the type system cannot prove the runtime map is exhaustive.
+    interface Message {
+        readonly kind: string;
+    }
+    const handlers: Record<string, (shape: Message) => number> = {
+        info: (shape) => {
+            // The full member reaches the handler, not its tag.
+            assert.equal(shape.kind, "info");
+            return 1;
+        },
+    };
+    const matcher = getTaggedUnionMatcher<Message>()("kind")(handlers);
+
+    // Act / Assert
+    assert.equal(matcher({ kind: "info" }), 1);
+    assert.throws(() => matcher({ kind: "warn" }), /Unhandled tag: warn/);
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Autocomplete — the language server is the oracle, not the type system
+// ============================================================================
+
+const REPO_ROOT = path.resolve(import.meta.dirname, "..");
+const SHAPE_SOURCE = `type Shape = { kind: "a"; a: number } | { kind: "b"; b: number } | { kind: "c"; c: number };`;
+
+interface LabelsProbe {
+    readonly name: string;
+    readonly factory: "getTaggedUnionMatcher" | "getTaggedUnionMatcherW";
+    readonly body: string;
+    readonly tail?: string;
+}
+
+const labelsFor = ({
+    name,
+    factory,
+    body,
+    tail = "",
+}: LabelsProbe): Promise<readonly string[]> => {
+    const session = new LspSession(REPO_ROOT);
+    const target: CompletionTarget = {
+        file: `src/__autocomplete_${name}.ts`,
+        source: [
+            `import { ${factory} } from "./index.ts";`,
+            SHAPE_SOURCE,
+            `const m = ${factory}<Shape>()("kind")({`,
+            body,
+            `}${tail});`,
+            "",
+        ].join("\n"),
+    };
+    return session
+        .completionLabelsAt(target)
+        .then((result) => result.labels)
+        .finally(() => session.close());
+};
+
+test("autocomplete: a tagged-union pattern requires the tags", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "tagged_union_fresh";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor({
+        name,
+        factory: "getTaggedUnionMatcher",
+        body: "    /*COMPLETE*/",
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["a", "b", "c"]);
+    });
+});
+
+test("autocomplete: a handled tag drops out of the popup", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "tagged_union_after_key";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor({
+        name,
+        factory: "getTaggedUnionMatcher",
+        body: "    a: () => 1,\n    /*COMPLETE*/",
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["b", "c"]);
+    });
+});
+
+test("autocomplete: a fallback makes the remaining tags optional", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "tagged_union_with_fallback";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor({
+        name,
+        factory: "getTaggedUnionMatcher",
+        body: "    /*COMPLETE*/",
+        tail: ", () => 0",
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["a?", "b?", "c?"]);
+    });
+});
+
+// `Mixed` has two common keys, but `id`'s value is not a tag, so only `kind`
+// may serve as the discriminant.
+const MIXED_SOURCE = `type Mixed = { id: Date; kind: "a"; a: number } | { id: Date; kind: "b"; b: number };`;
+
+const discriminantLabelsFor = ({
+    name,
+    factory,
+    typeName,
+    typeSource,
+}: {
+    readonly name: string;
+    readonly factory: "getTaggedUnionMatcher" | "getTaggedUnionMatcherW";
+    readonly typeName: string;
+    readonly typeSource: string;
+}): Promise<readonly string[]> => {
+    const session = new LspSession(REPO_ROOT);
+    const target: CompletionTarget = {
+        file: `src/__autocomplete_${name}.ts`,
+        source: [
+            `import { ${factory} } from "./index.ts";`,
+            typeSource,
+            `const m = ${factory}<${typeName}>()(/*COMPLETE*/);`,
+            "",
+        ].join("\n"),
+    };
+    return session
+        .completionLabelsAt(target)
+        .then((result) => result.labels)
+        .finally(() => session.close());
+};
+
+test("autocomplete: the discriminant key is offered at the key argument", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "tagged_union_discriminant";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = discriminantLabelsFor({
+        name,
+        factory: "getTaggedUnionMatcher",
+        typeName: "Mixed",
+        typeSource: MIXED_SOURCE,
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        // The argument position also offers every global identifier, so assert
+        // inclusion of the discriminant and exclusion of the non-tag key.
+        assert.ok(result.includes('"kind"'));
+        assert.ok(!result.includes('"id"'));
+    });
+});

src/tagged-union.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+import type { Exact, UnknownRecord } from "type-fest";
+
+import type {
+    HandlerMap,
+    PatternReturns,
+    RedundantFallback,
+    UnaryFn,
+} from "./matcher-shared.ts";
+
+// A tagged union is discriminated by one property whose values are the tags.
+// Only `string` and `number` tags can key a handler map: `symbol` has no
+// literal syntax to write a handler under, and `bigint` is not a property key.
+type Tag = string | number;
+
+// The discriminant values of `T` under `K`. `Extract` keeps the finite literal
+// tags and leaves a widened `string`/`number` as itself, so an open universe
+// keeps an open fallback.
+type Tags<T extends object, K extends keyof T> = Extract<T[K], Tag>;
+
+// The keys of `T` that can act as a discriminant. `getTaggedUnionMatcher<T>()`
+// accepts only these, so the factory rejects a key whose values are not tags.
+type Discriminated<T extends object> = {
+    [K in keyof T]: T[K] extends Tag ? K : never;
+}[keyof T];
+
+// The member(s) of `T` tagged `V`. `Extract` distributes over the union, so a
+// duplicated tag maps to a union of members rather than silently dropping one.
+type MapTaggedUnion<T extends object, K extends keyof T> = {
+    [V in Tags<T, K>]: Extract<T, Record<K, V>>;
+};
+
+type Handlers<T extends object, K extends keyof T, R> = {
+    [V in Tags<T, K>]: UnaryFn<MapTaggedUnion<T, K>[V], R>;
+};
+
+// The members `Handled` covers. Mapping over `Tags` keeps every index within
+// `MapTaggedUnion`'s keys, and the conditional drops a stray key outside `T` so
+// it cannot widen the remainder. The remainder is `Exclude<T, …>`, mirroring
+// the primitive matcher's `Exclude<T, PatternParam<keyof Handled>>`.
+type HandledMembers<T extends object, K extends keyof T, Handled> = {
+    [V in Tags<T, K>]: V extends keyof Handled
+        ? MapTaggedUnion<T, K>[V]
+        : never;
+}[Tags<T, K>];
+
+// The fallback is a *second argument*, not a property of the handler map, so
+// its parameter can be the remainder the map left open. See development/library.md.
+type Fallback<T extends object, K extends keyof T, Handled, R> = UnaryFn<
+    Exclude<T, HandledMembers<T, K, Handled>>,
+    R
+>;
+
+// A fallback is redundant once the handler map covers every tag of `T`. Folded
+// into `Handled`'s own (self-referential) constraint so it is checked *after*
+// inference; see the primitive matcher for why a conditional in the fallback's
+// parameter is evaluated too early.
+type MustBePartial<T extends object, K extends keyof T, Handled> =
+    Tags<T, K> extends keyof Handled ? RedundantFallback : unknown;
+
+// TypeScript does not apply the excess-property check to a generic constraint,
+// so `Exact` restores it for the generic forms.
+
+// Strict returns: one common `R`. Overload order is load-bearing:
+//   #1 Handlers (first) -> the exhaustive form and the autocomplete popup
+//   #2 Fallback (last)  -> accepts a partial handler map plus a fallback
+interface TaggedUnionMatcherStrict<T extends object, K extends keyof T> {
+    <R>(handlers: Handlers<T, K, R>): UnaryFn<T, R>;
+    <
+        R,
+        Handled extends Exact<Partial<Handlers<T, K, R>>, Handled> &
+            MustBePartial<T, K, Handled>,
+    >(
+        handlers: Handled & Partial<Handlers<T, K, R>>,
+        fallback: Fallback<T, K, Handled, R>,
+    ): UnaryFn<T, R>;
+}
+
+// Widened returns: the union of every handler's return type. `P` is inferred
+// from the whole handler map, whose closed constraint supplies the
+// contextual/autocomplete type.
+interface TaggedUnionMatcherWidening<T extends object, K extends keyof T> {
+    <P extends Exact<Handlers<T, K, unknown>, P>>(
+        handlers: P,
+    ): UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<P>>;
+    <
+        R,
+        Handled extends Exact<Partial<Handlers<T, K, unknown>>, Handled> &
+            MustBePartial<T, K, Handled>,
+    >(
+        handlers: Handled,
+        fallback: Fallback<T, K, Handled, R>,
+    ): UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<Handled> | R>;
+}
+
+const dispatch =
+    (k: PropertyKey) =>
+    (handlers: HandlerMap, fallback?: UnaryFn<never, unknown>) =>
+    (shape: object): unknown => {
+        // `object` carries no index signature, so the read needs the assertion;
+        // the factory admits only keys whose values are `string | number` tags,
+        // so the result is narrowed to the map's key space.
+        // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/no-unsafe-type-assertion
+        const tag = (shape as UnknownRecord)[k] as string | number;
+        return (
+            handlers[tag] ??
+            fallback ??
+            (() => {
+                throw new Error(`Unhandled tag: ${String(tag)}`);
+            })
+        )(
+            // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/no-unsafe-type-assertion
+            shape as never,
+        );
+    };
+
+export const getTaggedUnionMatcher =
+    <T extends object>() =>
+    <K extends Discriminated<T>>(k: K): TaggedUnionMatcherStrict<T, K> =>
+        dispatch(k);
+
+export const getTaggedUnionMatcherW =
+    <T extends object>() =>
+    <K extends Discriminated<T>>(k: K): TaggedUnionMatcherWidening<T, K> =>
+        dispatch(k);