A steady increase is being noted in the number of web developers switching to AngularJS to build dynamic web applications within a short amount of time. AngularJS is designed as cross-browser web application development framework based on JavaScript, and maintained by Google. Unlike other frameworks, it enables developers to use HTML as a template language. I have written about the evolution and rise of Angular JS in one of my previous blogs.
The programmers also have option to extend HTML’s syntax, and use it in a manner similar to XML. Hence, it becomes easier for developers to express various components of the web application in a clean and readable way. Developers use Angular JS framework extensively as they can avail the dependency injection, data binding, built-in services and other features provided by AngularJS to create robust web applications without putting extra time and effort.
Why Developers Must Use Angular JS Framework for Creating Ambitious Web Applications?
Simplifies Web Application Development and Maintenance
AngularJS allows developers to build applications based on model-view-controller (MVC) approach. The MVC approach makes it easier for developers to keep the business logic and user interface separate. But AngularJS, unlike other frameworks, requires developers to divide the entire web application to a number of MVC components. Also, it manages the MVC components efficiently, and connects these MVC components by acting as a pipeline. Hence, it becomes easier for programmers to manage MVC components of the application without writing additional code.
Defines UI of the Web Application in HTML
As noted earlier, AngularJS enables developers to extend HTML, and use it as a template language. Unlike JavaScript, HTML is a declarative language. So developers can define the user interface (UI) of the web application procedurally using HTML. HTML further helps programmers to re-organize the UI by keeping all its components intact. The developers can further take advantage of special attributes of HTML tags to control the execution of the web application. The attributes further enable users to decide what and when to load components, while making the framework take care of dependencies.
Simplifies DOM Analysis and Modification
Most frameworks require programmers to analyze document object model (DOM) of a web page through observable functions. But AngularJS analyzes the DOM and create bindings between various components through element attributes specific to it. Hence, the developers do not need to write complex and messy code, while avoiding errors. Also, AngularJS speeds up the DOM modification process by making changes to the DOM directly without requiring developers to add extra HTML code.
Synchronizes Data Automatically
AngularJS scores over other web frameworks in the category of data binding. It is designed with features to synchronize data between various components of model and view automatically. At the same time, the framework makes data binding occur at specific points of the JavaScript code execution. Hence, data binding is not done each time individual controls or values change. The feature further replaces many cascading data change events each time the model or view of the web application is updated.
Facilitates Data Filtering
While using AngularJS, developers can use filters to select specific items from an array, and return a new array. They can use filters as a tool to transform data before sending to the users. Developers use filters for reversing the existing order of an array, filtering the array based on specific parameters, formatting the decimal places of a number, or implementing pagination. However, they design the filters as standalone functions, and not related to the application. The programmers can use filters only for different data transformation purposes.
Improves Testability of Websites
AngularJS comes with a built-in dependency injection subsystem. The dependency injection subsystem connects different aspects of the framework effectively. Hence, the controllers used in a project rely on dependency injection to pass information. The feature makes it easier for users to manage the controllers and scopes of the application more efficiently. Also, it enables testers to perform unit testing continuously by seizing the dependency injection and then injecting mock data into the controller. The testers can inject a variety of mock data into the controller to measure both output and behavior accurately.
Keeps Evolving
Google and a team of community members maintain Angular JS as an open source framework. They update AngularJS regularly with new features and functionalities. For instance, AngularJS 2.0 focuses on mobile application development, as a large percentage of modern users are accessing websites on their mobile devices. It aims to simplify web application development by making developers focus on load time, performance and other aspects of mobile-friendly websites. At the same time, AngularJS 2.0 supports several new web browsers, and provides an improved dependency injection system. However, the version 2.0 of AngularJS is still in beta testing stage.
However, AngularJS, like other web frameworks, has a number of shortcomings. For instance, AngularJS allows users to perform the same task in a number of ways. Hence, users often find it daunting to decide the best way to perform a specific task. Also, they have to read the code thoroughly to understand the complex lifecycle of AngularJS applications. But each user can easily overcome these shortcomings, and use AngularJS for building a variety of dynamic web applications.
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