Angular.js Concepts in Depth (we need to go deeper)
Brief overview Quick intro (~2 min) Core concepts: - Modules - DI - Controllers - Scopes - Views - Directives - Templates - Filters - Providers Change detection Note: (lns are based on Angular 1.4.0-rc.0)
quick intro (in case living under a rock) - “JAVA script” client side framework (they call it like that when they contact you from an HR agency) - Imposes MVW architecture - Component based - DI
module - Logical containers - Module -> [controllers, filters, directives, services, factories, animations, configs] Example: angular.module('yourApp', ['yourDependency']); its phases - or blocks: - config (define your app configuration, e.g. routes, only providers & constants) - run (similar to a main method, not needed but sometimes useful, only instances & constants)
DI - each app has one $injector - $injector can instantiate types, invoke methods, load modules - instance cache + instance factory - credited with making all providers singletons - $injector.get() -> if inCache() return from cache -> else instantiate a small DI usage example : yourApp.controller('yourCtrl', function($scope) {});
controller - more like view models, less like controllers - controller ~ view relation: 1-1 - can be used in relation 1-m (not the usual practice) - each controller has its own scope and view which contains what is shown - created by ~ $controllerProvider (lns 8645 - 8791)
scopes - objects containing view related functions and properties - each controller has one - app has one “parent” scope ~ $rootScope - children can have their own children
views At the beginning (0.x ~ 1.x) there were only classic, because the ng team thought directives could be used as composite views with state - classic views: ng-route - kinda composite: ng-include - composite views: ui-router
templates ~ an HTML fragment ~ partial view - mostly used by directives
expressions - code placed in “{{ }}” handlebars represent expressions example: <div>{{ 3+5 }}</div> - before rendering the actual template, its expressions are compiled by $interpolate service - detrimental to performance - always check their performance with batarang - one time binding “::” (!= one-way data binding) (lns 10485 - 10584)
directives - composable components - can have their own scope - they are not providers, as they are more of an extension to the DOM elements, but they do have their $compileProvider (lns 5924 - 8518) - can have its own controller (one of the reasons why in the first Angular versions there was no need for composite view)
DDO yourModule.directive('directiveName', function factory(injectables) { var directiveDefinitionObject = { priority: 0, template: '<div></div>', // or // function(tElement, tAttrs) { ... }, // or // templateUrl: 'directive.html', // or // function(tElement, tAttrs) { ... }, transclude: false, restrict: 'A', replace: true, templateNamespace: 'html', scope: false, controller: function($scope, $element, $attrs, $transclude, otherInjectables) { /**...*/ }, controllerAs: 'stringIdentifier', bindToController: false, require: 'siblingDirectiveName', // or // ['^parentDirectiveName', '?optionalDirectiveName', '? ^optionalParent'], compile: function compile(tElement, tAttrs, transclude) { return { pre: function preLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { /**...*/ }, post: function postLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { /**...*/ } }; // or // return function postLink( ... ) { ... } } // or // link: { // pre: function preLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { ... }, // post: function postLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { ... } // } // or // link: function postLink( ... ) { ... } }; return directiveDefinitionObject; });
directive intrinsics phases - compile - preLink - postLink - link
directive source example /** * @question * Guess which element does this native directive extend? */ var htmlAnchorDirective = valueFn({ restrict: 'E', compile: function(element, attr) { if (!attr.href && !attr.xlinkHref) { return function(scope, element) { // If the linked element is not an anchor tag anymore, do nothing if (element[0].nodeName.toLowerCase() !== 'a') return; // SVGAElement does not use the href attribute, but rather the 'xlinkHref' attribute. var href = toString.call(element.prop('href')) === '[object SVGAnimatedString]' ? 'xlink:href' : 'href'; element.on('click', function(event) { // if we have no href url, then don't navigate anywhere. if (!element.attr(href)) { event.preventDefault(); } }); }; } } });
directives most usable ones: - model - event (ng-click, ng-mouseover...) - value - bind - class - include - repeat - show - switch the main list is within lns 18928 - 27672
filters - think of it as a formatter - an ng service used for formatting data to the user - example {{ expression | filter_name[:parameter_value] ... ] }} - when registering them, Angular automatically adds “Filter” postfix to them, in order not to mix them with other services - all filters are handled by their own provider ~ $FilterProvider (lns 17663 - 18926)
filters native filter list: - currency - date - filter - json - limitTo - lowercase - number - orderBy - uppercase
providers - referred to as “services” (op term) - Represent the state of your app - List of providers: provider constant factory service decorator value (lns 4170 - 4402)
provider - Configurable factory - Meaning it has configuration options and a creation function ($get) - Can be used during the config phase - // angular.provider('providerName');
provider source function provider(name, provider_) { assertNotHasOwnProperty(name, 'service'); if (isFunction(provider_) || isArray(provider_)) { provider_ = providerInjector.instantiate(provider_); } if (!provider_.$get) { throw $injectorMinErr('pget', "Provider '{0}' must define $get factory method.", name); } return providerCache[name + providerSuffix] = provider_; }
provider examples someModule.provider('providerName', function (){ var trackingUrl = '/track'; // A provider method for configuring where the tracked events should been saved this.setTrackingUrl = function(url) { trackingUrl = url; }; // The service factory function this.$get = ['$http', function($http) { var trackedEvents = {}; return { // Call this to track an event event: function(event) { var count = trackedEvents[event] || 0; count += 1; trackedEvents[event] = count; return count; }, // Call this to save the tracked events to the trackingUrl save: function() { $http.post(trackingUrl, trackedEvents); } }; }]; });
factory - well known - most widely used - private functions - provider with a $get function - // angular.factory('someFactory', factoryObject)
factory source function factory(name, factoryFn, enforce) { return provider(name, { $get: enforce !== false ? enforceReturnValue(name, factoryFn) : factoryFn }); } function enforceReturnValue(name, factory) { return function enforcedReturnValue() { var result = instanceInjector.invoke(factory, this); if (isUndefined(result)) { throw $injectorMinErr('undef', "Provider '{0}' must return a value from $get factory method.", name); } return result; }; }
factory examples someModule.factory('ping', ['$http', function($http) { return { ping: function { return $http.send('/ping'); }; }]); someModule.controller('Ctrl', ['ping', function(ping) { ping(); }]); someModule.factory('ping', ['$http', function($http) { return function ping() { return $http.send('/ping'); }; }]); someModule.controller('Ctrl', ['ping', function(ping) { ping(); }]);
constant - we all know what constant means - can’t be decorated (not shit, Sherlock) - injectable during config phase - Example: angular.constant('someConstantName', constantValue)
constant source function constant(name, value) { assertNotHasOwnProperty(name, 'constant'); providerCache[name] = value; instanceCache[name] = value; }
constant – examples someModule.constant('SHARD_HEIGHT', 306); someModule.constant('MY_COLOURS', ['red', 'blue', 'grey']);
value - can not be injected in the config phase - represents an angular variable that can be injected and used throughout your providers, directives, controllers example: angular.value('someValue', actualValue)
value source function value(name, val) { return factory(name, valueFn(val), false); }
service - known but not so widespread - injectable constructor example: angular.service('ServiceName', serviceObj);
service source function service(name, constructor) { return factory(name, ['$injector', function($injector) { return $injector.instantiate(constructor); }]); }
service examples var ServiceName = function($http) { this.$http = $http; }; ServiceName.$inject = ['$http']; ServiceName.prototype.send = function() { return this.$http.get('/some-http-address'); }; $provide.service('ServiceName', ServiceName); angular.service('ServiceName', function($http){ this.$http = $http; this.send = function() { return this.$http.get('/some-http-address'); }; });
decorator - Service instantiation interceptor - Behavior override - Modify / encapsulate other providers - Can decorate every provider, except constant - Less known, barely used - why? - angular-mocks uses it to add flush() to $timeout angular.decorator('someDecorator', decoratorObj);
decorator source function decorator(serviceName, decorFn) { var origProvider = providerInjector.get(serviceName + providerSuffix), orig$get = origProvider.$get; origProvider.$get = function() { var origInstance = instanceInjector.invoke(orig$get, origProvider); return instanceInjector.invoke(decorFn, null, {$delegate: origInstance}); }; }
decorator example /** * @description * * Here we decorate the ns.$log service to convert warnings to errors */ angular.decorator('$log', ['$delegate', function ($delegate) { delegate.warn = delegate.error; return delegate; }]);
Change detection - dirty checking - consists of running equality checks over all of the data that the view depends on
Questions (answers not promised)

"Angular.js Concepts in Depth" by Aleksandar Simović

  • 1.
    Angular.js Concepts inDepth (we need to go deeper)
  • 2.
    Brief overview Quick intro(~2 min) Core concepts: - Modules - DI - Controllers - Scopes - Views - Directives - Templates - Filters - Providers Change detection Note: (lns are based on Angular 1.4.0-rc.0)
  • 3.
    quick intro (in caseliving under a rock) - “JAVA script” client side framework (they call it like that when they contact you from an HR agency) - Imposes MVW architecture - Component based - DI
  • 4.
    module - Logical containers -Module -> [controllers, filters, directives, services, factories, animations, configs] Example: angular.module('yourApp', ['yourDependency']); its phases - or blocks: - config (define your app configuration, e.g. routes, only providers & constants) - run (similar to a main method, not needed but sometimes useful, only instances & constants)
  • 5.
    DI - each apphas one $injector - $injector can instantiate types, invoke methods, load modules - instance cache + instance factory - credited with making all providers singletons - $injector.get() -> if inCache() return from cache -> else instantiate a small DI usage example : yourApp.controller('yourCtrl', function($scope) {});
  • 6.
    controller - more likeview models, less like controllers - controller ~ view relation: 1-1 - can be used in relation 1-m (not the usual practice) - each controller has its own scope and view which contains what is shown - created by ~ $controllerProvider (lns 8645 - 8791)
  • 7.
    scopes - objects containingview related functions and properties - each controller has one - app has one “parent” scope ~ $rootScope - children can have their own children
  • 8.
    views At the beginning(0.x ~ 1.x) there were only classic, because the ng team thought directives could be used as composite views with state - classic views: ng-route - kinda composite: ng-include - composite views: ui-router
  • 9.
    templates ~ an HTMLfragment ~ partial view - mostly used by directives
  • 10.
    expressions - code placedin “{{ }}” handlebars represent expressions example: <div>{{ 3+5 }}</div> - before rendering the actual template, its expressions are compiled by $interpolate service - detrimental to performance - always check their performance with batarang - one time binding “::” (!= one-way data binding) (lns 10485 - 10584)
  • 11.
    directives - composable components -can have their own scope - they are not providers, as they are more of an extension to the DOM elements, but they do have their $compileProvider (lns 5924 - 8518) - can have its own controller (one of the reasons why in the first Angular versions there was no need for composite view)
  • 12.
    DDO yourModule.directive('directiveName', function factory(injectables){ var directiveDefinitionObject = { priority: 0, template: '<div></div>', // or // function(tElement, tAttrs) { ... }, // or // templateUrl: 'directive.html', // or // function(tElement, tAttrs) { ... }, transclude: false, restrict: 'A', replace: true, templateNamespace: 'html', scope: false, controller: function($scope, $element, $attrs, $transclude, otherInjectables) { /**...*/ }, controllerAs: 'stringIdentifier', bindToController: false, require: 'siblingDirectiveName', // or // ['^parentDirectiveName', '?optionalDirectiveName', '? ^optionalParent'], compile: function compile(tElement, tAttrs, transclude) { return { pre: function preLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { /**...*/ }, post: function postLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { /**...*/ } }; // or // return function postLink( ... ) { ... } } // or // link: { // pre: function preLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { ... }, // post: function postLink(scope, iElement, iAttrs, controller) { ... } // } // or // link: function postLink( ... ) { ... } }; return directiveDefinitionObject; });
  • 13.
    directive intrinsics phases - compile -preLink - postLink - link
  • 14.
    directive source example /** *@question * Guess which element does this native directive extend? */ var htmlAnchorDirective = valueFn({ restrict: 'E', compile: function(element, attr) { if (!attr.href && !attr.xlinkHref) { return function(scope, element) { // If the linked element is not an anchor tag anymore, do nothing if (element[0].nodeName.toLowerCase() !== 'a') return; // SVGAElement does not use the href attribute, but rather the 'xlinkHref' attribute. var href = toString.call(element.prop('href')) === '[object SVGAnimatedString]' ? 'xlink:href' : 'href'; element.on('click', function(event) { // if we have no href url, then don't navigate anywhere. if (!element.attr(href)) { event.preventDefault(); } }); }; } } });
  • 15.
    directives most usable ones: -model - event (ng-click, ng-mouseover...) - value - bind - class - include - repeat - show - switch the main list is within lns 18928 - 27672
  • 16.
    filters - think ofit as a formatter - an ng service used for formatting data to the user - example {{ expression | filter_name[:parameter_value] ... ] }} - when registering them, Angular automatically adds “Filter” postfix to them, in order not to mix them with other services - all filters are handled by their own provider ~ $FilterProvider (lns 17663 - 18926)
  • 17.
    filters native filter list: -currency - date - filter - json - limitTo - lowercase - number - orderBy - uppercase
  • 18.
    providers - referred toas “services” (op term) - Represent the state of your app - List of providers: provider constant factory service decorator value (lns 4170 - 4402)
  • 19.
    provider - Configurable factory -Meaning it has configuration options and a creation function ($get) - Can be used during the config phase - // angular.provider('providerName');
  • 20.
    provider source function provider(name,provider_) { assertNotHasOwnProperty(name, 'service'); if (isFunction(provider_) || isArray(provider_)) { provider_ = providerInjector.instantiate(provider_); } if (!provider_.$get) { throw $injectorMinErr('pget', "Provider '{0}' must define $get factory method.", name); } return providerCache[name + providerSuffix] = provider_; }
  • 21.
    provider examples someModule.provider('providerName', function(){ var trackingUrl = '/track'; // A provider method for configuring where the tracked events should been saved this.setTrackingUrl = function(url) { trackingUrl = url; }; // The service factory function this.$get = ['$http', function($http) { var trackedEvents = {}; return { // Call this to track an event event: function(event) { var count = trackedEvents[event] || 0; count += 1; trackedEvents[event] = count; return count; }, // Call this to save the tracked events to the trackingUrl save: function() { $http.post(trackingUrl, trackedEvents); } }; }]; });
  • 22.
    factory - well known -most widely used - private functions - provider with a $get function - // angular.factory('someFactory', factoryObject)
  • 23.
    factory source function factory(name,factoryFn, enforce) { return provider(name, { $get: enforce !== false ? enforceReturnValue(name, factoryFn) : factoryFn }); } function enforceReturnValue(name, factory) { return function enforcedReturnValue() { var result = instanceInjector.invoke(factory, this); if (isUndefined(result)) { throw $injectorMinErr('undef', "Provider '{0}' must return a value from $get factory method.", name); } return result; }; }
  • 24.
    factory examples someModule.factory('ping', ['$http',function($http) { return { ping: function { return $http.send('/ping'); }; }]); someModule.controller('Ctrl', ['ping', function(ping) { ping(); }]); someModule.factory('ping', ['$http', function($http) { return function ping() { return $http.send('/ping'); }; }]); someModule.controller('Ctrl', ['ping', function(ping) { ping(); }]);
  • 25.
    constant - we allknow what constant means - can’t be decorated (not shit, Sherlock) - injectable during config phase - Example: angular.constant('someConstantName', constantValue)
  • 26.
    constant source function constant(name,value) { assertNotHasOwnProperty(name, 'constant'); providerCache[name] = value; instanceCache[name] = value; }
  • 27.
    constant – examples someModule.constant('SHARD_HEIGHT',306); someModule.constant('MY_COLOURS', ['red', 'blue', 'grey']);
  • 28.
    value - can notbe injected in the config phase - represents an angular variable that can be injected and used throughout your providers, directives, controllers example: angular.value('someValue', actualValue)
  • 29.
    value source function value(name,val) { return factory(name, valueFn(val), false); }
  • 30.
    service - known butnot so widespread - injectable constructor example: angular.service('ServiceName', serviceObj);
  • 31.
    service source function service(name,constructor) { return factory(name, ['$injector', function($injector) { return $injector.instantiate(constructor); }]); }
  • 32.
    service examples var ServiceName= function($http) { this.$http = $http; }; ServiceName.$inject = ['$http']; ServiceName.prototype.send = function() { return this.$http.get('/some-http-address'); }; $provide.service('ServiceName', ServiceName); angular.service('ServiceName', function($http){ this.$http = $http; this.send = function() { return this.$http.get('/some-http-address'); }; });
  • 33.
    decorator - Service instantiationinterceptor - Behavior override - Modify / encapsulate other providers - Can decorate every provider, except constant - Less known, barely used - why? - angular-mocks uses it to add flush() to $timeout angular.decorator('someDecorator', decoratorObj);
  • 34.
    decorator source function decorator(serviceName,decorFn) { var origProvider = providerInjector.get(serviceName + providerSuffix), orig$get = origProvider.$get; origProvider.$get = function() { var origInstance = instanceInjector.invoke(orig$get, origProvider); return instanceInjector.invoke(decorFn, null, {$delegate: origInstance}); }; }
  • 35.
    decorator example /** * @description * *Here we decorate the ns.$log service to convert warnings to errors */ angular.decorator('$log', ['$delegate', function ($delegate) { delegate.warn = delegate.error; return delegate; }]);
  • 36.
    Change detection - dirtychecking - consists of running equality checks over all of the data that the view depends on
  • 37.