---
title: Consumption
layout: docs
permalink: /docs/handbook/declaration-files/consumption.html
---
In TypeScript 2.0, it has become significantly easier to consume declaration files, in acquiring, using, and finding them.
This page details exactly how to do all three.

# Downloading

Getting type declarations in TypeScript 2.0 and above requires no tools apart from npm.

As an example, getting the declarations for a library like lodash takes nothing more than the following command

```cmd
npm install --save @types/lodash
```

It is worth noting that if the npm package already includes its declaration file as described in [Publishing](./Publishing.md), downloading the corresponding `@types` package is not needed.

# Consuming

From there you’ll be able to use lodash in your TypeScript code with no fuss.
This works for both modules and global code.

For example, once you’ve `npm install`-ed your type declarations, you can use imports and write

```ts
import * as _ from "lodash";
_.padStart("Hello TypeScript!", 20, " ");
```

or if you’re not using modules, you can just use the global variable `_`.

```ts
_.padStart("Hello TypeScript!", 20, " ");
```

# Searching

For the most part, type declaration packages should always have the same name as the package name on `npm`, but prefixed with `@types/`,
  but if you need, you can check out [https://aka.ms/types](https://aka.ms/types) to find the package for your favorite library.

> Note: if the declaration file you are searching for is not present, you can always contribute one back and help out the next developer looking for it.
> Please see the DefinitelyTyped [contribution guidelines page](http://definitelytyped.org/guides/contributing.html) for details.