What is the Difference Between AngularJS and Angular?
Many people often get confused between AngularJS and Angular, and it’s no surprise given their similar names. However, they are actually quite different in terms of their features and capabilities. In this article, we will explore the key differences between AngularJS and Angular to help you better understand these two popular web development frameworks.
AngularJS
AngularJS, also known as Angular 1, is an open-source web application framework maintained by Google. It was first released in 2010 and quickly gained popularity among developers due to its simplicity and flexibility. AngularJS is based on JavaScript and allows developers to build dynamic web applications with ease. It uses two-way data binding, which means that any changes made to the model are automatically reflected in the view, and vice versa. AngularJS also comes with a large set of built-in directives, such as ng-repeat, ng-model, and ng-show, which make it easy to manipulate the DOM and create interactive user interfaces.
Angular
Angular, also known as Angular 2 and above, is a complete re-implementation of AngularJS and is not backwards compatible. It was released in 2016 and was built from the ground up with a focus on modern web development principles. Angular is based on TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript that adds static typing and other advanced features. It also introduces a component-based architecture, which promotes code reusability and maintainability. Unlike AngularJS, Angular uses one-way data binding by default, which helps to improve performance and reduce the risk of unexpected side effects. Additionally, Angular comes with a powerful CLI (Command Line Interface) tool that makes it easy to set up a new project, generate components, and run tests.
Key Differences
One of the main differences between AngularJS and Angular is their architecture. While AngularJS uses controllers and $scope, Angular uses components and services. This shift towards a more modular and encapsulated approach makes it easier to reason about the code and scale the application. Another key difference is the language used – AngularJS is based on JavaScript, while Angular is based on TypeScript. TypeScript offers better tooling and a more robust type system, which can help catch errors at compile time rather than runtime.
In conclusion, while AngularJS and Angular share some similarities, they are fundamentally different in terms of their design and features. Angular has evolved to meet the demands of modern web development, and its adoption continues to grow. Whether you choose AngularJS or Angular ultimately depends on your specific project requirements and your familiarity with either framework. I hope that this article has provided you with a clearer understanding of the differences between AngularJS and Angular.
