refactor(core): improve forwardRef typings (#53880)

This commit improves the forwardRef typings for better
type safety and inference.

PR Close #53880

goldens/public-api/core/index.md

@@ -647,12 +647,12 @@ export interface FactorySansProvider {
 }
 
 // @public
-export function forwardRef(forwardRefFn: ForwardRefFn): Type<any>;
+export function forwardRef<T>(forwardRefFn: ForwardRefFn<T>): T;
 
 // @public
-export interface ForwardRefFn {
+export interface ForwardRefFn<T> {
     // (undocumented)
-    (): any;
+    (): T;
 }
 
 // @public (undocumented)

packages/core/src/di/forward_ref.ts

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {Type} from '../interface/type';
 import {getClosureSafeProperty} from '../util/property';
 import {stringify} from '../util/stringify';
 
@@ -21,8 +20,8 @@ import {stringify} from '../util/stringify';
  * {@example core/di/ts/forward_ref/forward_ref_spec.ts region='forward_ref_fn'}
  * @publicApi
  */
-export interface ForwardRefFn {
-  (): any;
+export interface ForwardRefFn<T> {
+  (): T;
 }
 
 const __forward_ref__ = getClosureSafeProperty({__forward_ref__: getClosureSafeProperty});
@@ -66,12 +65,12 @@ const __forward_ref__ = getClosureSafeProperty({__forward_ref__: getClosureSafeP
  *
  * @publicApi
  */
-export function forwardRef(forwardRefFn: ForwardRefFn): Type<any> {
+export function forwardRef<T>(forwardRefFn: ForwardRefFn<T>): T {
   (<any>forwardRefFn).__forward_ref__ = forwardRef;
   (<any>forwardRefFn).toString = function() {
     return stringify(this());
   };
-  return (<Type<any>><any>forwardRefFn);
+  return (<T><any>forwardRefFn);
 }
 
 /**

packages/core/test/acceptance/standalone_spec.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {CommonModule, NgComponentOutlet} from '@angular/common';
-import {Component, createEnvironmentInjector, Directive, EnvironmentInjector, forwardRef, inject, Injectable, Injector, Input, isStandalone, NgModule, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA, OnInit, Pipe, PipeTransform, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef} from '@angular/core';
+import {Component, createEnvironmentInjector, Directive, EnvironmentInjector, forwardRef, inject, Injectable, Injector, Input, isStandalone, NgModule, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA, OnInit, Pipe, PipeTransform, Type, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef} from '@angular/core';
 import {TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
 
 describe('standalone components, directives, and pipes', () => {
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ describe('standalone components, directives, and pipes', () => {
     @Component({
       selector: 'test',
       standalone: true,
-      imports: [forwardRef(() => null)],
+      imports: [forwardRef(() => null as any as Type<any>)],
       template: '',
     })
     class TestComponent {