Nowadays, consumers access websites and web applications on a wide variety of devices, operating systems, and browsers. Hence, developers have to focus extensively on website’s user interface (UI) to make it easy to access, use, and navigate. As a robust client-side programming language, JavaScript helps developers to build rich web user interfaces (UIs). The developers can further accelerate web UI designing by using a number of front-end JavaScript frameworks. AngularJS is a widely used front-end JavaScript framework developed and maintained by Google.
Like other open source JavaScript frameworks, AngularJS also helps developers to curtail overall web application development cost. But it accelerates custom web application development by enabling programmers to express various components of a web application by extending HTML syntax. Also, AngularJS updates the web application’s UI each time the backend changes by supporting two-way data binding. The developers can further extend AngularJS by integrating it with various JavaScript libraries. There are also a number of reasons why many web developers prefer AngularJS to other front-end JavaScript frameworks.
Why Most Web Developers Prefer AngularJS to Other Front-end JavaScript Frameworks?
Extends HTML Syntax
In addition to being written in JavaScript, AngularJS is also distributed as a JavaScript file. It can be embedded into a web page directly through the script tag. Also, it allows developers to express various components of a web application by extending HTML with three ng-directives – ng-app, ng-model and ng-bind. The web developers can even use AngularJS expressions to bind AngularJS data to HTML without writing additional code.
Implements MVC Pattern Differently
Model-view-controllers enable developers to simplify development of large web applications by keeping their user interface and business logic separated. But AngularJS implements MVC pattern in a distinct way. The AngularJS team calls the distinct implementation of MVC pattern as model-view-whatever. The model-view-whatever architecture makes it easier for programmers to improve the performance and maintainability of complex web applications.
Supports Two Way Data Binding
In addition to implementing MVC architecture differently, AngularJS also supports two-way data binding. The feature helps developers to synchronize the data between model and view components without putting extra effort. AngularJS automatically updates the web application’s frontend each time its backend changes. As AngularJS synchronizes the model and view automatically, the developers are not required to implement DOM manipulation.
Improves Server Communication
AngularJS reduces web server load significantly by supporting caching. At the same time, the built-in services provided by AngularJS help developers to improve client-server communication. The services further make it easier for web developers to work with various backend systems and solutions. Also, the developers can take advantage of the built-in services to make the data return asynchronously without writing complex code.
Implements Client-Side Form Validation
The web developers can create a variety of forms by combining HTML, CSS and AngularJS. AngularJS further helps developers to implement client-side form validation. It monitors the state of the form as well as individual text fields. It even notifies users about the current state of the form or input fields. The developers can easily validate the form input using standard HTML5 attributes. AngularJS even allow them to write and use custom validation functions.
Keeps the Code Maintainable and Testable
AngularJS helps developers to write readable and maintainable code by extending HTML syntax. In addition to extending existing HTML tags, the developers can use directive to create custom HTML syntax. At the same time, the framework keeps the code testable by allowing programmers to use plan JavaScript objects. The models in AngularJS are also designed as plain JavaScript objects. Hence, the developers can use the framework to write clean, readable, maintainable, and testable code.
Provides a Built-in Dependency Injection Subsystem
Often frontend web developers use dependency injection tools to inject dependency to an object in the most appropriate way and make the objects exchange dependencies seamlessly. AngularJS simplifies dependency injection by providing a built-in dependency injection subsystem. The dependency injection subsystem makes it easier for developers to replace individual components off the web application, along with performing testing.
A Component of MEAN Stack
Many web developers prefer using AngularJS as a key component of MEAN stack along with MangoDB NoSQL database, Express.js and Node.js. As full-stack JavaScript, MEAN enables programmers to write both client-side and server-side code in JavaScript. With more and more enterprises opting for isomorphic applications, AngularJS is being used widely by developers as a component of MEAN stack.
Several AngularJS-based Frameworks
In addition to integrating AngularJS with a number of widely used JavaScript libraries, the web developers also have option to avail several AngularJS-based frameworks – Suave, PrimeNG, QuantumUI, Semantic UI and UI Bootstrap. The UI components provided by these AngularJS-based frameworks make it easier for web developers to build custom web-based user interfaces. Also, these frameworks help developers to create responsive and cross-browser web user interfaces.
Keeps Evolving
As mentioned earlier, AngularJS is maintained by Google along with a community of developers. Hence, it keeps evolving consistently to simplify and speed up web application development. In November, AngularJS 5 was released with a number of new features. The latest version of the JavaScript framework simplifies development of progressive web applications, removes unnecessary code from the application through a build optimizer, and provides a new HttpClient.
On the whole, the features provided by AngularJS help web application developers to build custom web UIs in a short amount of time. But the web developers must remember that AngularJS, like other JavaScript frameworks, has its own pros and cons. They have to integrate AngularJS with other JavaScript libraries and frameworks to accelerate custom web application development. They can still use the latest version of AngularJS to avail a set of new and improved features.
