What is the difference between the 'unknown' and 'any' types in TypeScript?
Instruction: Provide a detailed comparison of the 'unknown' and 'any' types, including examples where each is appropriate to use.
Context: This question explores the candidate's understanding of TypeScript's type safety mechanisms, particularly the distinction between 'unknown' and 'any' types.
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Both unknown and any can receive values of any type, but they make very different promises to downstream code. unknown requires appropriate narrowing or a justified assertion before type-specific operations. any permits those operations unchecked and can spread unsound assumptions through assignments and return values.
function label(value: unknown): string { if (typeof value === "string") return value.toUpperCase(); if (typeof value === "number")...