Angular (web framework)

Angular (web framework)
Name	Angular
Developer	Google
Released	14 September 2016
Latest release version	18.2.0
Latest release date	21 August 2024
Programming language	TypeScript
Genre	Web framework
License	MIT License

Angular (web framework). Angular is a free and open-source web application framework led by the Google Angular Team and a community of individuals and corporations. It is a complete rewrite from the same team that built AngularJS, designed for building dynamic, single-page web applications. The framework emphasizes developer productivity, performance, and a robust tooling ecosystem, making it a popular choice for enterprise-scale projects.

Overview

Angular is a platform and framework for building client-side applications using HTML, CSS, and TypeScript. It provides a comprehensive solution that includes well-integrated libraries covering a wide range of features, including routing, form management, client-server communication, and more. The framework is developed and maintained by engineers at Google and a broad community, with its development guided by a clear design philosophy centered on components and dependency injection. Major corporations like Microsoft, IBM, and SAP utilize Angular for their web platforms, and it is often compared to other modern frameworks like React and Vue.js.

History

The original framework, AngularJS, was developed by Misko Hevery and Adam Abrons at Brat Tech LLC in 2009. Google later took over its development, and it gained widespread adoption. In September 2014, the Angular team at Google announced a ground-up rewrite, initially called "Angular 2". This decision, driven by the need to address performance and mobile development challenges, caused significant debate within the developer community. The first stable release of the new framework, simply called Angular, was launched in September 2016. Subsequent versions have followed a regular release schedule, with major updates like Angular Ivy (a new rendering engine) introduced in version 9.

Features

Angular incorporates several distinctive features that define its development model. It uses TypeScript as its primary language, providing strong typing and advanced tooling support. The framework's core building block is the component, which controls a patch of screen called a view. Key features include two-way data binding, dependency injection, and a powerful template syntax. It also includes a comprehensive router for navigation between views, an HTTP client for communicating with backend services, and integrated support for RxJS to handle asynchronous operations. These features are designed to work seamlessly together within the framework's ecosystem.

Architecture

Angular applications are structured around a fundamental architecture built on NgModules. The basic building blocks are components, which are organized into a hierarchical tree. Services, defined with the `@Injectable` decorator, provide reusable business logic and data access through Angular's dependency injection system. Templates, written with an enhanced HTML syntax, define views and use directives like `*ngFor` and `*ngIf` to manipulate the DOM. The framework's change detection mechanism efficiently updates the view when application state changes. This architecture is designed to facilitate the development of large, maintainable applications by enforcing a clear separation of concerns.

Development tools

The Angular ecosystem is supported by a powerful suite of official development tools. The primary tool is the Angular CLI (Command Line Interface), which automates tasks like project creation, code generation, testing, and deployment. For development, integration with code editors like Visual Studio Code is robust, with extensions providing IntelliSense and debugging support. The framework works with build tools like Webpack (configured internally by the CLI) and testing frameworks such as Jasmine and Karma. Additional tools include the Angular DevTools browser extension for profiling and the Angular Language Service for enhanced editor support.

Reception and adoption

Since its release, Angular has been widely adopted for building enterprise-scale web applications. It has received praise for its all-inclusive nature, strong typing with TypeScript, and excellent tooling, particularly the Angular CLI. The framework has a strong presence in the enterprise sector, with use by companies like Forbes, Delta Air Lines, and BMW. It consistently ranks highly in surveys like the Stack Overflow Developer Survey. Criticisms have occasionally focused on its steep learning curve and verbosity compared to more minimalist libraries. However, its comprehensive approach and backing by Google ensure it remains a major pillar in the modern web development landscape.

Category:Web frameworks Category:Google software Category:Free software programmed in TypeScript