diff --git a/cli/compilers/ts.rs b/cli/compilers/ts.rs
index 532791cd00..9b6661f588 100644
--- a/cli/compilers/ts.rs
+++ b/cli/compilers/ts.rs
@@ -454,6 +454,7 @@ impl TsCompiler {
       filename: compiled_code_filename,
       media_type: msg::MediaType::JavaScript,
       source_code: compiled_code,
+      types_url: None,
     };
 
     Ok(compiled_module)
@@ -521,6 +522,7 @@ impl TsCompiler {
       filename: source_map_filename,
       media_type: msg::MediaType::JavaScript,
       source_code,
+      types_url: None,
     };
 
     Ok(source_map_file)
@@ -694,6 +696,7 @@ mod tests {
       filename: PathBuf::from(p.to_str().unwrap().to_string()),
       media_type: msg::MediaType::TypeScript,
       source_code: include_bytes!("../tests/002_hello.ts").to_vec(),
+      types_url: None,
     };
 
     let mock_state = ThreadSafeGlobalState::mock(vec![
diff --git a/cli/file_fetcher.rs b/cli/file_fetcher.rs
index b5c00c3070..c891665093 100644
--- a/cli/file_fetcher.rs
+++ b/cli/file_fetcher.rs
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@ use crate::disk_cache::DiskCache;
 use crate::http_util;
 use crate::http_util::create_http_client;
 use crate::http_util::FetchOnceResult;
+use crate::http_util::ResultPayload;
 use crate::msg;
 use crate::progress::Progress;
 use deno_core::ErrBox;
 use deno_core::ModuleSpecifier;
 use futures::future::Either;
 use futures::future::FutureExt;
+use regex::Regex;
 use reqwest;
 use serde_json;
 use std;
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ pub fn source_cache_failed_error(module_name: &str, reason: &str) -> ErrBox {
 pub struct SourceFile {
   pub url: Url,
   pub filename: PathBuf,
+  pub types_url: Option<Url>,
   pub media_type: msg::MediaType,
   pub source_code: Vec<u8>,
 }
@@ -299,11 +302,18 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
     };
 
     let media_type = map_content_type(&filepath, None);
+    let types_url = match media_type {
+      msg::MediaType::JavaScript | msg::MediaType::JSX => {
+        get_types_url(&module_url, &source_code, None)
+      }
+      _ => None,
+    };
     Ok(SourceFile {
       url: module_url.clone(),
       filename: filepath,
       media_type,
       source_code,
+      types_url,
     })
   }
 
@@ -362,11 +372,23 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
       &filepath,
       source_code_headers.mime_type.as_ref().map(String::as_str),
     );
+    let types_url = match media_type {
+      msg::MediaType::JavaScript | msg::MediaType::JSX => get_types_url(
+        &module_url,
+        &source_code,
+        source_code_headers
+          .x_typescript_types
+          .as_ref()
+          .map(String::as_str),
+      ),
+      _ => None,
+    };
     Ok(Some(SourceFile {
       url: module_url.clone(),
       filename: filepath,
       media_type,
       source_code,
+      types_url,
     }))
   }
 
@@ -443,6 +465,7 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
             None,
             Some(new_module_url.to_string()),
             None,
+            None,
           ) {
             return Err(source_header_cache_failed_error(
               module_url.as_str(),
@@ -463,13 +486,19 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
             )
             .await
         }
-        FetchOnceResult::Code(source, maybe_content_type, etag) => {
+        FetchOnceResult::Code(ResultPayload {
+          body: source,
+          content_type: maybe_content_type,
+          etag,
+          x_typescript_types,
+        }) => {
           // We land on the code.
           if let Err(e) = dir.save_source_code_headers(
             &module_url,
             maybe_content_type.clone(),
             None,
             etag,
+            x_typescript_types.clone(),
           ) {
             return Err(source_header_cache_failed_error(
               module_url.as_str(),
@@ -494,11 +523,21 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
             maybe_content_type.as_ref().map(String::as_str),
           );
 
+          let types_url = match media_type {
+            msg::MediaType::JavaScript | msg::MediaType::JSX => get_types_url(
+              &module_url,
+              source.as_bytes(),
+              x_typescript_types.as_ref().map(String::as_str),
+            ),
+            _ => None,
+          };
+
           let source_file = SourceFile {
             url: module_url.clone(),
             filename: filepath,
             media_type,
             source_code: source.as_bytes().to_owned(),
+            types_url,
           };
 
           // Explicit drop to keep reference alive until future completes.
@@ -554,6 +593,7 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
     mime_type: Option<String>,
     redirect_to: Option<String>,
     etag: Option<String>,
+    x_typescript_types: Option<String>,
   ) -> std::io::Result<()> {
     let cache_key = self
       .deps_cache
@@ -567,6 +607,7 @@ impl SourceFileFetcher {
       mime_type,
       redirect_to,
       etag,
+      x_typescript_types,
     };
 
     let cache_filename = self.deps_cache.get_cache_filename(url);
@@ -648,6 +689,41 @@ fn map_js_like_extension(
   }
 }
 
+/// Take a module URL and source code and determines if the source code contains
+/// a type directive, and if so, returns the parsed URL for that type directive.
+fn get_types_url(
+  module_url: &Url,
+  source_code: &[u8],
+  maybe_types_header: Option<&str>,
+) -> Option<Url> {
+  lazy_static! {
+    /// Matches reference type directives in strings, which provide
+    /// type files that should be used by the compiler instead of the
+    /// JavaScript file.
+    static ref DIRECTIVE_TYPES: Regex = Regex::new(
+      r#"(?m)^/{3}\s*<reference\s+types\s*=\s*["']([^"']+)["']\s*/>"#
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+  }
+
+  match maybe_types_header {
+    Some(types_header) => match Url::parse(&types_header) {
+      Ok(url) => Some(url),
+      _ => Some(module_url.join(&types_header).unwrap()),
+    },
+    _ => match DIRECTIVE_TYPES.captures(str::from_utf8(source_code).unwrap()) {
+      Some(cap) => {
+        let val = cap.get(1).unwrap().as_str();
+        match Url::parse(&val) {
+          Ok(url) => Some(url),
+          _ => Some(module_url.join(&val).unwrap()),
+        }
+      }
+      _ => None,
+    },
+  }
+}
+
 fn filter_shebang(bytes: Vec<u8>) -> Vec<u8> {
   let string = str::from_utf8(&bytes).unwrap();
   if let Some(i) = string.find('\n') {
@@ -690,11 +766,14 @@ pub struct SourceCodeHeaders {
   pub redirect_to: Option<String>,
   /// ETag of the remote source file
   pub etag: Option<String>,
+  /// X-TypeScript-Types defines the location of a .d.ts file
+  pub x_typescript_types: Option<String>,
 }
 
 static MIME_TYPE: &str = "mime_type";
 static REDIRECT_TO: &str = "redirect_to";
 static ETAG: &str = "etag";
+static X_TYPESCRIPT_TYPES: &str = "x_typescript_types";
 
 impl SourceCodeHeaders {
   pub fn from_json_string(headers_string: String) -> Self {
@@ -706,11 +785,14 @@ impl SourceCodeHeaders {
       let mime_type = headers_json[MIME_TYPE].as_str().map(String::from);
       let redirect_to = headers_json[REDIRECT_TO].as_str().map(String::from);
       let etag = headers_json[ETAG].as_str().map(String::from);
+      let x_typescript_types =
+        headers_json[X_TYPESCRIPT_TYPES].as_str().map(String::from);
 
       return SourceCodeHeaders {
         mime_type,
         redirect_to,
         etag,
+        x_typescript_types,
       };
     }
 
@@ -751,6 +833,11 @@ impl SourceCodeHeaders {
       value_map.insert(ETAG.to_string(), json!(etag));
     }
 
+    if let Some(x_typescript_types) = &self.x_typescript_types {
+      value_map
+        .insert(X_TYPESCRIPT_TYPES.to_string(), json!(x_typescript_types));
+    }
+
     if value_map.is_empty() {
       return Ok(None);
     }
@@ -878,12 +965,14 @@ mod tests {
     assert_eq!(headers.mime_type.clone().unwrap(), "text/javascript");
     assert_eq!(headers.redirect_to.unwrap(), "http://example.com/a.js");
     assert_eq!(headers.etag, None);
+    assert_eq!(headers.x_typescript_types, None);
 
     let _ = fetcher.save_source_code_headers(
       &url,
       Some("text/typescript".to_owned()),
       Some("http://deno.land/a.js".to_owned()),
       Some("W/\"04572f4749af993f4961a7e5daa1e4d5\"".to_owned()),
+      Some("./a.d.ts".to_owned()),
     );
     let headers2 = fetcher.get_source_code_headers(&url);
     assert_eq!(headers2.mime_type.clone().unwrap(), "text/typescript");
@@ -892,6 +981,7 @@ mod tests {
       headers2.etag.unwrap(),
       "W/\"04572f4749af993f4961a7e5daa1e4d5\""
     );
+    assert_eq!(headers2.x_typescript_types.unwrap(), "./a.d.ts")
   }
 
   #[test]
@@ -971,6 +1061,7 @@ mod tests {
           Some("application/json".to_owned()),
           None,
           None,
+          None,
         );
         fetcher_2.get_source_file_async(&module_url_1, true, false, false)
       })
@@ -1047,6 +1138,7 @@ mod tests {
           Some("text/typescript".to_owned()),
           None,
           None,
+          None,
         );
         fetcher.get_source_file_async(&module_url, true, false, false)
       })
@@ -1416,6 +1508,7 @@ mod tests {
           Some("text/javascript".to_owned()),
           None,
           None,
+          None,
         );
         let result2 = fetcher.fetch_cached_remote_source(&module_url);
         assert!(result2.is_ok());
@@ -1459,6 +1552,7 @@ mod tests {
           Some("text/javascript".to_owned()),
           None,
           None,
+          None,
         );
         let result2 = fetcher.fetch_cached_remote_source(&module_url);
         assert!(result2.is_ok());
@@ -1590,6 +1684,22 @@ mod tests {
     ));
   }
 
+  #[test]
+  fn test_fetch_source_file_2() {
+    /*recompile ts file*/
+    let (_temp_dir, fetcher) = test_setup();
+
+    let p = std::path::PathBuf::from(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"))
+      .join("tests/001_hello.js");
+    let specifier =
+      ModuleSpecifier::resolve_url_or_path(p.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+    tokio_util::run(fetcher.fetch_source_file_async(&specifier, None).map(
+      |r| {
+        assert!(r.is_ok());
+      },
+    ));
+  }
+
   #[test]
   fn test_resolve_module_3() {
     // unsupported schemes
@@ -1841,7 +1951,7 @@ mod tests {
       assert!(source.is_ok());
       let source = source.unwrap();
       assert_eq!(source.source_code, b"console.log('etag')");
-      assert_eq!(&(source.media_type), &msg::MediaType::JavaScript);
+      assert_eq!(&(source.media_type), &msg::MediaType::TypeScript);
 
       let headers = fetcher.get_source_code_headers(&module_url);
       assert_eq!(headers.etag, Some("33a64df551425fcc55e".to_string()));
@@ -1875,4 +1985,136 @@ mod tests {
     tokio_util::run(fut);
     drop(http_server_guard);
   }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_get_types_url_1() {
+    let module_url = Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.js").unwrap();
+    let source_code = b"console.log(\"foo\");".to_owned();
+    let result = get_types_url(&module_url, &source_code, None);
+    assert_eq!(result, None);
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_get_types_url_2() {
+    let module_url = Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.js").unwrap();
+    let source_code = r#"/// <reference types="./mod.d.ts" />
+    console.log("foo");"#
+      .as_bytes()
+      .to_owned();
+    let result = get_types_url(&module_url, &source_code, None);
+    assert_eq!(
+      result,
+      Some(Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.d.ts").unwrap())
+    );
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_get_types_url_3() {
+    let module_url = Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.js").unwrap();
+    let source_code = r#"/// <reference types="https://deno.land/mod.d.ts" />
+    console.log("foo");"#
+      .as_bytes()
+      .to_owned();
+    let result = get_types_url(&module_url, &source_code, None);
+    assert_eq!(
+      result,
+      Some(Url::parse("https://deno.land/mod.d.ts").unwrap())
+    );
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_get_types_url_4() {
+    let module_url = Url::parse("file:///foo/bar/baz.js").unwrap();
+    let source_code = r#"/// <reference types="../qat/baz.d.ts" />
+    console.log("foo");"#
+      .as_bytes()
+      .to_owned();
+    let result = get_types_url(&module_url, &source_code, None);
+    assert_eq!(
+      result,
+      Some(Url::parse("file:///foo/qat/baz.d.ts").unwrap())
+    );
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_get_types_url_5() {
+    let module_url = Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.js").unwrap();
+    let source_code = b"console.log(\"foo\");".to_owned();
+    let result = get_types_url(&module_url, &source_code, Some("./mod.d.ts"));
+    assert_eq!(
+      result,
+      Some(Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.d.ts").unwrap())
+    );
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_get_types_url_6() {
+    let module_url = Url::parse("https://example.com/mod.js").unwrap();
+    let source_code = r#"/// <reference types="./mod.d.ts" />
+    console.log("foo");"#
+      .as_bytes()
+      .to_owned();
+    let result = get_types_url(
+      &module_url,
+      &source_code,
+      Some("https://deno.land/mod.d.ts"),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+      result,
+      Some(Url::parse("https://deno.land/mod.d.ts").unwrap())
+    );
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_fetch_with_types_header() {
+    let http_server_guard = crate::test_util::http_server();
+    let (_temp_dir, fetcher) = test_setup();
+    let module_url =
+      Url::parse("http://127.0.0.1:4545/xTypeScriptTypes.js").unwrap();
+
+    let fut = async move {
+      let source = fetcher
+        .fetch_remote_source_async(&module_url, false, false, 1)
+        .await;
+      assert!(source.is_ok());
+      let source = source.unwrap();
+      assert_eq!(source.source_code, b"export const foo = 'foo';");
+      assert_eq!(&(source.media_type), &msg::MediaType::JavaScript);
+      assert_eq!(
+        source.types_url,
+        Some(
+          Url::parse("http://127.0.0.1:4545/xTypeScriptTypes.d.ts").unwrap()
+        )
+      );
+    };
+
+    tokio_util::run(fut);
+    drop(http_server_guard);
+  }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn test_fetch_with_types_reference() {
+    let http_server_guard = crate::test_util::http_server();
+    let (_temp_dir, fetcher) = test_setup();
+    let module_url =
+      Url::parse("http://127.0.0.1:4545/referenceTypes.js").unwrap();
+
+    let fut = async move {
+      let source = fetcher
+        .fetch_remote_source_async(&module_url, false, false, 1)
+        .await;
+      assert!(source.is_ok());
+      let source = source.unwrap();
+      assert_eq!(&(source.media_type), &msg::MediaType::JavaScript);
+      assert_eq!(
+        source.types_url,
+        Some(
+          Url::parse("http://127.0.0.1:4545/xTypeScriptTypes.d.ts").unwrap()
+        )
+      );
+    };
+
+    tokio_util::run(fut);
+    drop(http_server_guard);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/cli/http_util.rs b/cli/http_util.rs
index 5d1c7c61dd..466bec3f21 100644
--- a/cli/http_util.rs
+++ b/cli/http_util.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ use bytes::Bytes;
 use deno_core::ErrBox;
 use futures::future::FutureExt;
 use reqwest;
+use reqwest::header::HeaderMap;
+use reqwest::header::HeaderValue;
 use reqwest::header::ACCEPT_ENCODING;
 use reqwest::header::CONTENT_ENCODING;
 use reqwest::header::CONTENT_TYPE;
@@ -14,7 +16,6 @@ use reqwest::header::ETAG;
 use reqwest::header::IF_NONE_MATCH;
 use reqwest::header::LOCATION;
 use reqwest::header::USER_AGENT;
-use reqwest::header::{HeaderMap, HeaderValue};
 use reqwest::redirect::Policy;
 use reqwest::Client;
 use reqwest::Response;
@@ -72,17 +73,24 @@ fn resolve_url_from_location(base_url: &Url, location: &str) -> Url {
   }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub struct ResultPayload {
+  pub body: String,
+  pub content_type: Option<String>,
+  pub etag: Option<String>,
+  pub x_typescript_types: Option<String>,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum FetchOnceResult {
-  // (code, maybe_content_type, etag)
-  Code(String, Option<String>, Option<String>),
+  Code(ResultPayload),
   NotModified,
   Redirect(Url),
 }
 
 /// Asynchronously fetches the given HTTP URL one pass only.
 /// If no redirect is present and no error occurs,
-/// yields Code(code, maybe_content_type).
+/// yields Code(ResultPayload).
 /// If redirect occurs, does not follow and
 /// yields Redirect(url).
 pub fn fetch_string_once(
@@ -145,6 +153,16 @@ pub fn fetch_string_once(
       .get(CONTENT_ENCODING)
       .map(|content_encoding| content_encoding.to_str().unwrap().to_owned());
 
+    const X_TYPESCRIPT_TYPES: &str = "X-TypeScript-Types";
+
+    let x_typescript_types =
+      response
+        .headers()
+        .get(X_TYPESCRIPT_TYPES)
+        .map(|x_typescript_types| {
+          x_typescript_types.to_str().unwrap().to_owned()
+        });
+
     let body;
     if let Some(content_encoding) = content_encoding {
       body = match content_encoding {
@@ -161,7 +179,12 @@ pub fn fetch_string_once(
       body = response.text().await?;
     }
 
-    return Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(body, content_type, etag));
+    return Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(ResultPayload {
+      body,
+      content_type,
+      etag,
+      x_typescript_types,
+    }));
   };
 
   fut.boxed()
@@ -257,10 +280,16 @@ mod tests {
     let client = create_http_client();
     let fut =
       fetch_string_once(client, &url, None).map(|result| match result {
-        Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(code, maybe_content_type, etag)) => {
+        Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(ResultPayload {
+          body: code,
+          content_type: maybe_content_type,
+          etag,
+          x_typescript_types,
+        })) => {
           assert!(!code.is_empty());
           assert_eq!(maybe_content_type, Some("application/json".to_string()));
-          assert_eq!(etag, None)
+          assert_eq!(etag, None);
+          assert_eq!(x_typescript_types, None);
         }
         _ => panic!(),
       });
@@ -280,7 +309,12 @@ mod tests {
     let client = create_http_client();
     let fut =
       fetch_string_once(client, &url, None).map(|result| match result {
-        Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(code, maybe_content_type, etag)) => {
+        Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(ResultPayload {
+          body: code,
+          content_type: maybe_content_type,
+          etag,
+          x_typescript_types,
+        })) => {
           assert!(!code.is_empty());
           assert_eq!(code, "console.log('gzip')");
           assert_eq!(
@@ -288,6 +322,7 @@ mod tests {
             Some("application/javascript".to_string())
           );
           assert_eq!(etag, None);
+          assert_eq!(x_typescript_types, None);
         }
         _ => panic!(),
       });
@@ -304,14 +339,20 @@ mod tests {
     let fut = async move {
       fetch_string_once(client.clone(), &url, None)
         .map(|result| match result {
-          Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(code, maybe_content_type, etag)) => {
+          Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(ResultPayload {
+            body: code,
+            content_type: maybe_content_type,
+            etag,
+            x_typescript_types,
+          })) => {
             assert!(!code.is_empty());
             assert_eq!(code, "console.log('etag')");
             assert_eq!(
               maybe_content_type,
-              Some("application/javascript".to_string())
+              Some("application/typescript".to_string())
             );
             assert_eq!(etag, Some("33a64df551425fcc55e".to_string()));
+            assert_eq!(x_typescript_types, None);
           }
           _ => panic!(),
         })
@@ -341,7 +382,12 @@ mod tests {
     let client = create_http_client();
     let fut =
       fetch_string_once(client, &url, None).map(|result| match result {
-        Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(code, maybe_content_type, etag)) => {
+        Ok(FetchOnceResult::Code(ResultPayload {
+          body: code,
+          content_type: maybe_content_type,
+          etag,
+          x_typescript_types,
+        })) => {
           assert!(!code.is_empty());
           assert_eq!(code, "console.log('brotli');");
           assert_eq!(
@@ -349,6 +395,7 @@ mod tests {
             Some("application/javascript".to_string())
           );
           assert_eq!(etag, None);
+          assert_eq!(x_typescript_types, None);
         }
         _ => panic!(),
       });
diff --git a/cli/ops/compiler.rs b/cli/ops/compiler.rs
index d2a2a1d58c..2934c79eeb 100644
--- a/cli/ops/compiler.rs
+++ b/cli/ops/compiler.rs
@@ -109,8 +109,20 @@ fn op_fetch_source_files(
     let files = try_join_all(futures).await?;
 
     // We want to get an array of futures that resolves to
-    let v = files.into_iter().map(|file| {
+    let v = files.into_iter().map(|f| {
       async {
+        // if the source file contains a `types_url` we need to replace
+        // the module with the type definition when requested by the compiler
+        let file = match f.types_url {
+          Some(types_url) => {
+            let types_specifier = ModuleSpecifier::from(types_url);
+            global_state
+              .file_fetcher
+              .fetch_source_file_async(&types_specifier, ref_specifier.clone())
+              .await?
+          }
+          _ => f,
+        };
         // Special handling of Wasm files:
         // compile them into JS first!
         // This allows TS to do correct export types.
diff --git a/cli/tests/integration_tests.rs b/cli/tests/integration_tests.rs
index 52fc254c5d..7f318119ad 100644
--- a/cli/tests/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/integration_tests.rs
@@ -622,6 +622,17 @@ itest!(type_definitions {
   output: "type_definitions.ts.out",
 });
 
+itest!(type_directives_01 {
+  args: "run --reload -L debug type_directives_01.ts",
+  output: "type_directives_01.ts.out",
+  http_server: true,
+});
+
+itest!(type_directives_02 {
+  args: "run --reload -L debug type_directives_02.ts",
+  output: "type_directives_02.ts.out",
+});
+
 itest!(types {
   args: "types",
   output: "types.out",
diff --git a/cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.d.ts b/cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.d.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9b8de5ede
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.d.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export const foo: "foo";
diff --git a/cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.js b/cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..917d891980
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+/// <reference types="./type_reference.d.ts" />
+
+export const foo = "foo";
diff --git a/cli/tests/type_directives_01.ts b/cli/tests/type_directives_01.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..71305824c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/type_directives_01.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import * as foo from "http://127.0.0.1:4545/xTypeScriptTypes.js";
+
+console.log(foo.foo);
diff --git a/cli/tests/type_directives_01.ts.out b/cli/tests/type_directives_01.ts.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2fbdb15ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/type_directives_01.ts.out
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[WILDCARD]
+DEBUG TS - compiler::host.getSourceFile http://127.0.0.1:4545/xTypeScriptTypes.d.ts
+[WILDCARD]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cli/tests/type_directives_02.ts b/cli/tests/type_directives_02.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7274bf26d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/type_directives_02.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import * as foo from "./subdir/type_reference.js";
+
+console.log(foo.foo);
diff --git a/cli/tests/type_directives_02.ts.out b/cli/tests/type_directives_02.ts.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1e630ca32d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/type_directives_02.ts.out
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[WILDCARD]
+DEBUG TS - compiler::host.getSourceFile file:[WILDCARD]cli/tests/subdir/type_reference.d.ts
+[WILDCARD]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/std/manual.md b/std/manual.md
index 3ddf6493ba..2fa93718f1 100644
--- a/std/manual.md
+++ b/std/manual.md
@@ -567,20 +567,65 @@ The out of the box TypeScript compiler though relies on both extension-less
 modules and the Node.js module resolution logic to apply types to JavaScript
 modules.
 
-In order to bridge this gap, Deno supports compiler hints that inform Deno the
-location of `.d.ts` files and the JavaScript code they relate to. A compiler
-hint looks like this:
+In order to bridge this gap, Deno supports three ways of referencing type
+definition files without having to resort to "magic" resolution.
+
+#### Compiler hint
+
+If you are importing a JavaScript module, and you know where the type definition
+for that module is located, you can specify the type definition at import. This
+takes the form of a compiler hint. Compiler hints inform Deno the location of
+`.d.ts` files and the JavaScript code that is imported that they relate to. The
+hint is `@deno-types` and when specified the value will be used in the compiler
+instead of the JavaScript module. For example if you had `foo.js`, but you know
+that along side of it was `foo.d.ts` which was the types for the file, the code
+would look like this:
 
 ```ts
 // @deno-types="./foo.d.ts"
 import * as foo from "./foo.js";
 ```
 
-Where the hint affects the next `import` statement (or `export ... from`
-statement) where the value of the `@deno-types` will be substituted at compile
-time instead of the specified module. Like in the above example, the Deno
-compiler will load `./foo.d.ts` instead of `./foo.js`. Deno will still load
-`./foo.js` when it runs the program.
+The value follows the same resolution logic as importing a module, meaning the
+file needs to have an extension and is relative to the current module. Remote
+specifiers are also allowed.
+
+The hint affects the next `import` statement (or `export ... from` statement)
+where the value of the `@deno-types` will be substituted at compile time instead
+of the specified module. Like in the above example, the Deno compiler will load
+`./foo.d.ts` instead of `./foo.js`. Deno will still load `./foo.js` when it runs
+the program.
+
+#### Triple-slash reference directive in JavaScript files
+
+If you are hosting modules which you want to be consumed by Deno, and you want
+to inform Deno the location of the type definitions, you can utilise a
+triple-slash directive in the actual code. For example, if you have a JavaScript
+module, where you want to provide Deno with the location of the type definitions
+for that JavaScript file, which happens to be along side that file. You
+JavaScript module named `foo.js` might look like this:
+
+```js
+/// <reference types="./foo.d.ts" />
+export const foo = "foo";
+```
+
+Deno will see this, and the compiler will use `foo.d.ts` when type checking the
+file, though `foo.js` will be loaded at runtime. The resolution of the value of
+the directive follows the same resolution logic as importing a module, meaning
+the file needs to have an extension and is relative to the current file. Remote
+specifiers are also allowed.
+
+#### X-TypeScript-Types custom header
+
+If you are hosting modules which you want to be consumed by Deno, and you want
+to inform Deno the location of the type definitions, you can use a custom HTTP
+header of `X-TypeScript-Types` to inform Deno of the location of that file.
+
+The header works in the same way as the triple-slash reference mentioned above,
+it just means that the content of the JavaScript file itself does not need to be
+modified, and the location of the type definitions can be determined by the
+server itself.
 
 **Not all type definitions are supported.**
 
@@ -592,11 +637,12 @@ include `node`, expecting to resolve to some path like
 `./node_modules/@types/node/index.d.ts`. Since this depends on non-relative
 "magical" resolution, Deno cannot resolve this.
 
-**Why not use the triple-slash type reference?**
+**Why not use the triple-slash type reference in TypeScript files?**
 
 The TypeScript compiler supports triple-slash directives, including a type
 reference directive. If Deno used this, it would interfere with the behavior of
-the TypeScript compiler.
+the TypeScript compiler. Deno only looks for the directive in JavaScript (and
+JSX) files.
 
 ### Testing if current file is the main program
 
diff --git a/tools/http_server.py b/tools/http_server.py
index 3152a8982c..9b929c15e5 100755
--- a/tools/http_server.py
+++ b/tools/http_server.py
@@ -56,17 +56,44 @@ class ContentTypeHandler(QuietSimpleHTTPRequestHandler):
             if_not_match = self.headers.getheader('if-none-match')
             if if_not_match == "33a64df551425fcc55e":
                 self.send_response(304, 'Not Modified')
-                self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/javascript')
+                self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/typescript')
                 self.send_header('ETag', '33a64df551425fcc55e')
                 self.end_headers()
             else:
                 self.send_response(200, 'OK')
-                self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/javascript')
+                self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/typescript')
                 self.send_header('ETag', '33a64df551425fcc55e')
                 self.end_headers()
                 self.wfile.write(bytes("console.log('etag')"))
             return
 
+        if "xTypeScriptTypes.js" in self.path:
+            self.protocol_version = "HTTP/1.1"
+            self.send_response(200, 'OK')
+            self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/javascript')
+            self.send_header('X-TypeScript-Types', './xTypeScriptTypes.d.ts')
+            self.end_headers()
+            self.wfile.write(bytes("export const foo = 'foo';"))
+            return
+
+        if "xTypeScriptTypes.d.ts" in self.path:
+            self.protocol_version = "HTTP/1.1"
+            self.send_response(200, 'OK')
+            self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/typescript')
+            self.end_headers()
+            self.wfile.write(bytes("export const foo: 'foo';"))
+            return
+
+        if "referenceTypes.js" in self.path:
+            self.protocol_version = "HTTP/1.1"
+            self.send_response(200, 'OK')
+            self.send_header('Content-type', 'application/javascript')
+            self.end_headers()
+            self.wfile.write(
+                bytes('/// <reference types="./xTypeScriptTypes.d.ts" />\r\n'
+                      'export const foo = "foo";\r\n'))
+            return
+
         if "multipart_form_data.txt" in self.path:
             self.protocol_version = 'HTTP/1.1'
             self.send_response(200, 'OK')