Difference Between Angular and AngularJS

Overview

Angular and AngularJS are both JavaScript frameworks for building web applications, but they have significant differences. AngularJS, the older version, uses two-way data binding and relies on controllers. In contrast, Angular, the modern version, uses one-way data binding and components. Angular is based on TypeScript, while AngularJS uses JavaScript. Angular offers better performance, improved dependency injection, and enhanced mobile support. Its modular architecture simplifies code organization. However, transitioning from AngularJS to Angular can be challenging due to the architectural disparities. Overall, Angular is the preferred choice for modern web development, offering a more efficient and maintainable approach compared to AngularJS.

What is Angular?

Angular is a JavaScript framework developed and maintained by Google. It’s designed to help developers build dynamic and responsive web applications with ease. Angular is often used for creating single-page applications (SPAs) and offers a comprehensive set of tools and features for web development.

What is AngularJS?

AngularJS is an open-source JavaScript framework developed by Google. It was one of the earliest frameworks designed to simplify front-end web development and create dynamic, single-page applications (SPAs).

Key Difference Between Angular and AngularJS

The main difference between Angular and AngularJS is their architectural approach and version. AngularJS, also known as Angular 1, is an older JavaScript framework, while Angular refers to versions 2 and onwards, representing a complete rewrite of the framework.

Architecture: AngularJS uses a controller-based architecture with two-way data binding, while Angular employs a component-based architecture with one-way data binding. This architectural shift in Angular simplifies code organization and enhances performance.
Language: AngularJS primarily uses JavaScript, whereas Angular is based on TypeScript, offering static typing and improved tooling, resulting in more robust and maintainable code.
Mobile Support: Angular provides better support for mobile app development with features like Angular Universal for server-side rendering and Angular NativeScript for native mobile applications.
Performance: Angular outperforms AngularJS due to its enhanced change detection mechanism and Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, resulting in faster load times and improved runtime performance.
Ecosystem: Angular boasts an extensive ecosystem, including the Angular CLI for project management, robust testing tools, and a more active and supportive developer community.

Overall, while both frameworks have their merits, Angular’s modern approach, TypeScript integration, and performance enhancements make it a preferred choice for building scalable and efficient web applications in contemporary development.

Angular Vs AngularJS: What’s the Difference?

Feature/Aspect	Angular	AngularJS
Version	Angular 2 and onwards.	AngularJS (Angular 1).
Architecture	Component-based, one-way data binding, embraces modern web architecture.	Controller-based, two-way data binding, follows older MVC-style architecture.
Language	TypeScript (strongly typed).	JavaScript.
Mobile Support	Angular Universal for server-side rendering, Angular NativeScript for native apps.	Limited mobile support, requires additional frameworks like Ionic.
Performance	Improved due to Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, enhanced change detection, and optimized rendering.	Slower due to two-way data binding and less efficient change detection.
Dependency Injection	Hierarchical, more organized, facilitates better separation of concerns.	Less organized, simpler, but can lead to less modular code.
Development Ecosystem	Extensive ecosystem with Angular CLI, robust testing tools (e.g., Jasmine), and active community.	Limited tooling and community support, reliance on third-party libraries.
Routing	In-built routing module with a powerful router.	Community-supported routing system (e.g., ngRoute).
Directives	Improved and more versatile, supports custom structural directives.	Core feature, but fewer out-of-the-box directives, less flexibility.
Learning Curve	Steeper due to TypeScript and complex concepts like decorators and modules.	Shallower, but may feel outdated for modern development, simpler to pick up.
Size of Framework	Larger due to more features, tools, and a comprehensive standard library.	Smaller and simpler core, additional functionality added via libraries.
Code Reusability	Easier due to component-based architecture, promotes reusing components.	Somewhat limited due to controller-based structure, harder to achieve code modularity.
Backward Compatibility	May require adjustments when upgrading due to version changes.	Smoother transitions for AngularJS apps when upgrading within the same version.

Angular has evolved from AngularJS, offering modern features, better performance, a more organized development ecosystem, and improved developer tools. However, it comes with a steeper learning curve, while AngularJS, although somewhat outdated, remains simpler to grasp and may still be suitable for certain projects.

Features of Angular

Angular is a robust JavaScript framework with essential features for modern web application development:

Component-Based Architecture: Angular follows a component-based approach, promoting code modularity and reusability by dividing UI into reusable components.
TypeScript: Angular leverages TypeScript, offering strong typing, enhanced tooling, and improved code quality.
Dependency Injection: It provides a powerful dependency injection system, simplifying component management and enhancing code maintainability.
Two-Way Data Binding: Angular’s two-way data binding automates synchronization between the model and view, reducing manual DOM manipulation.
Routing: Angular includes a robust routing module for creating client-side routing, enabling smooth navigation in single-page applications (SPAs).
Modularity: Applications are organized into modules, streamlining code organization and encouraging code reusability.
Performance Optimization: Angular incorporates features like Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation and efficient change detection for high performance web apps.

These features collectively make Angular a powerful and popular choice for building modern, scalable web applications.

Features of AngularJS

AngularJS, an early JavaScript framework, offers several crucial features for web development:

Two-Way Data Binding: AngularJS introduced automatic synchronization of model and view, simplifying real-time updates.
MVC Architecture: It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, enhancing code organization.
Directives: AngularJS brought directives to HTML, allowing custom behavior and dynamic content.
Dependency Injection: Basic dependency injection aids in modular and testable code.
Controllers: It uses controllers to manage application behavior and state.
Filters: AngularJS includes filters for data manipulation before presentation.
Community and Resources: Supported by a vibrant developer community, offering extensive documentation and testing tools.

AngularJS, while older, remains relevant for maintaining legacy applications and understanding fundamental concepts in web development.

Conclusion

Angular represents versions 2 and onwards, embracing a component-based architecture with one-way data binding, whereas AngularJS (Angular 1) relies on a controller-based structure with two-way data binding.
Angular adopts TypeScript for strong typing and enhanced tooling, while AngularJS uses plain JavaScript.
Angular provides superior support for mobile app development through technologies like Angular Universal and Angular NativeScript, whereas AngularJS has limited mobile support.
Angular outperforms AngularJS due to Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation and more efficient change detection mechanisms.
Angular offers a more organized and robust dependency injection system compared to AngularJS.
Angular boasts a thriving ecosystem with tools like the Angular CLI, extensive testing support, and an active developer community, while AngularJS lags behind in these aspects.
Angular features an in-built routing module, simplifying client-side routing, whereas AngularJS relies on community-supported routing.
Migrating from AngularJS to Angular may require substantial adjustments due to architectural disparities, making the decision critical for long-term project viability.