Angular vs. AngularJS: What You Need To Know
Web DevelopmentAngular vs AngularJS
Due to our extensive custom development portfolio that includes multiple technologies both new and established, we get requests from multiple clients about the kind of technologies we can use and what is the difference between multiple technologies that sometimes overlap or at least the clients think that overlap. One of the key questions that come up every now and then with some frequency is the difference between AngularJS vs Angular.
It’s a valid question as both are quite similar. AngularJs is the updated version of Angular but with some major upgrades and differences that makes selecting between both a slightly difficult choice.
What is Angular?
Angular is an open-source web app framework developed by the Angular team at Google.
What is AngularJS?
It is an open-source and Javascript-based framework largely used for single-page web applications.
Introduction to Angular
Angular is a robust framework that utilizes typescript and HTML for building single-page applications. Functionalities that may be optional or critical are imported into the app as libraries.
There are some key components of an Angular app architecture. Various components are then arranged as Ngmodules. The code is then arranged as a functional set and compiled.
Angular apps will have a root module named AppModule that is used as the bootstrap for the initial app launch. And then, NgModule imports functions from other modules for other auxiliary tasks and responds to user requests. The functionalities of various Ng Modules can be used by other modules which makes them interchangeable and usable.
One of the advantages of using distinct modules is that you can divide the functionalities into distinct modules. This can help in managing and building large applications. You can also load codes selectively and on-demand to lower the overall code loaded during startup and reduce response time and make the overall app faster.
Also, Angular uses components that can be connected with the Root component for the component hierarchy and with the DOM that is Document Object Model which defines the view to be displayed for the end user.
Introduction to AngularJs
AngularJS is a Javascript framework that utilises Javascript over typescript by Angular. It was developed by Google and an army of volunteers maintains and updates this open-source single-page web app location framework. Angular JS utilises both MVC that is Model View & Controller and Model View-View Model architecture. AngularJs has become the preferred choice for front-end MEAN stack developers.
Key Features of Angular
Here are some of the major features or advantages of Angular:
Data Binding
With Angular, you can use data binding to move javascript from code to the UI view and respond to user interactions without writing any other codes.
Custom Components
Developers can create their own custom components that can contain both functionalities and logic for reusable pieces for custom development using Angular.
Dependency Injection
You can write Modular services during coding and inject them as and when needed. This allows you to test better and reuse the components as and when needed.
Major Testing Features
Angular provides many robust testing tools to make sure that you can test the entire application from end to end.
Compatible with All Browsers
Web apps developed with Angular are compatible on all browsers and almost all operating systems.
Key Features of AngularJS
MVC Framework
AngularJs allows you to utilise MVC, which is the Model View Controller model for development. This saves time as you can combine the client side after developing it separately.
HTML for UI Interface
It may be hard to use Javascript for user interfaces so AngularJS provides an HTML interface so you can only provide what you want and AngularJS will create the requisite dependencies.
POJO
AngularJS uses Plain Old JavaScript Objects, that is you don’t need to add additional elements to AngularJS and you can just use JavaScript with additional data sources.
The lack of requirement of any additional outside element makes AngularJS self-sufficient and an attractive option for custom development.
Massive Support Community
Google actively maintains AngularJS and provides support. AngularJS also has a robust community of developers constantly helping out each other and enhancing knowledge as a whole.
Two Way Binding
Data binding automatically synchronise data between view & the model. This way whenever the HTML or view component is updated, the related bound model has also updated automatically.
Major Differences Between Angular & AngularJS
Parameter |
Angular |
AngularJS |
Supportive Language | Largely uses TypeScript | Only JavaScript Supported |
Responsive | Yes. Fully optimised for mobiles. | Not a robust support for Mobiles. |
Architecture | Components Based | MVC & MVVC |
Learning Difficulty | It a challenge to learn Angular | AngularJS is relatively easy as compared to Angular |
Dependency Injection | Uses Hierarchical Injection | Uses Directives instead of Dependency Injection |
Routing Command | Can route between multiple views using @Route Config{(…)} | Can define routing with @routeProvider.when() |
Command Line Interface | Inbuilt AngularCLI tool | Doesn’t have CLI tool |
Examples | Web versions of Gmail, Upwork | Netflix & Istock website. |
Conclusion
Both AngularJS vs Angular have certain advantages and disadvantages. However as Angular is the updated version of AngularJs you can opt for Angular for a complete list of features and a relatively more updated platform. You can discuss the specific requirements and best fit from both with our expert developers with one simple phone call and a guarantee of an NDA. Hope this article helped in improving your understanding of both.