Difference Between Angular and AngularJS
The world of web development is rapidly evolving, and developers are often faced with choosing between various technologies. Two of the most popular frameworks for building dynamic web applications are Angular and AngularJS. Although their names are similar, there are significant differences between Angular and AngularJS that affect the approach to development, architecture, and the overall user experience. In this article, we will dive into the difference between Angular and AngularJS, exploring their unique features, architectural distinctions, and performance considerations.
Google launched the JavaScript-based framework AngularJS in 2010. It was created to make it easier for developers to create dynamic, single-page applications (SPAs) by enabling them to create interactive interfaces using JavaScript on the client side. The Model-View-Controller (MVC) design, which AngularJS adheres to, divides the application logic, view, and data model, and facilitates testing and maintenance.
But when the demand for web applications increased and the need for better performance became evident, Google unveiled a completely revised version in 2016 under the name Angular. This updated version provided more scalability and performance thanks to its TypeScript construction. In contrast to its forerunner, Angular is a contemporary, component-based framework that is still being actively developed.
AngularJS:
AngularJS offers a simple way to bind data to the user interface with directives, making it accessible even for beginner developers.
AngularJS uses HTML as the template language, augmented by directives that extend HTML’s capabilities for creating dynamic content.
One of the key features of AngularJS is two-way data binding, which keeps the model and the view in sync, reducing the need for manual updates and making development faster.
Angular:
Angular, with its component-based architecture, enables more efficient handling of complex applications. It reduces the strain on the browser by optimizing the rendering process.
Angular is built on TypeScript, providing static typing, which helps in identifying potential errors during development and ensuring scalable code.
Unlike AngularJS, Angular’s focus on reusable components enhances modularity and accelerates development.
Angular provides advanced development tools such as Angular CLI, which streamlines project setup, testing, and optimization.
One of the most critical factors highlighting the difference between Angular and AngularJS is their architecture.
AngularJS is based on the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. The application’s logic, data, and presentation are separated into different layers, which are synchronized through two-way data binding. While this approach simplifies the relationship between the model and view, it can become a performance bottleneck in large-scale applications.
Angular, on the other hand, uses a component-based architecture. Each part of the application is divided into independent, reusable components. This structure enhances maintainability and scalability, making it easier to manage and test individual parts of the application. This shift from MVC to components is one of the primary reasons why Angular vs AngularJS is a major topic in modern web development.
In terms of performance, there is little doubt that Angular is better than AngularJS. Many of AngularJS’s shortcomings are addressed by the more recent framework, especially in terms of performance optimization.
Large-scale applications using AngularJS frequently experienced performance problems because of its two-way data binding, which frequently resulted in needless re-renders and slower application response times.
Conversely, Angular brought about a one-way flow of data and various rendering optimizations. As a result, there are fewer DOM modifications, which results in quicker load times and an improved user interface. Furthermore, the Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation feature of Angular minimizes the size of the application and boosts runtime performance.
The development experience between Angular and AngularJS is notably different, with Angular providing a more robust and modern environment.
| AngularJS: |
| Angular: |
Community and support are vital factors when considering a development framework. While bothAngular and AngularJS have large communities, their levels of support differ significantly.
| At its height, AngularJS had a huge developer community, but as more developers switch to Angular, its appeal is dwindling. Furthermore, is AngularJS still supported? It has been a frequently asked issue as official support for the framework has ended. Official long-term support for AngularJS was terminated in January 2022, meaning that Google is no longer maintaining it. | In comparison, Angular is continuously updated and maintained. It features a robust and expanding community, copious documentation, libraries, and regular upgrades. Because Google delivers updates and enhancements frequently, Angular is a web development framework that is ready for the future. |
Angular vs AngularJS: Which one is better, depending on the requirements of your project? For teams with extensive knowledge of the framework or smaller projects, AngularJS can still be a good choice. However, it is not advised for new projects as its support has officially terminated.
Today, for the majority of development projects, Angular is the cutting-edge, scalable, and potent option. It provides more scalability, improved performance, and broad support from Google and the developer community. Angular is the perfect framework for large-scale enterprise apps or any project requiring future-proof technologies and great performance.
While AngularJS and Angular share a common history, they are fundamentally different frameworks. The difference between Angular and AngularJS lies in their architecture, performance capabilities, and the development experience they offer. AngularJS was a revolutionary framework when it was introduced, but the demands of modern web applications have shifted the focus toward more scalable and efficient technologies like Angular. For developers looking to create robust, high-performance applications, Angular is the better choice.
PNN Soft provides web application development services using popular frameworks such as Angular and AngularJS. A team of experienced developers creates modern and high-performance web solutions adapted to the individual requirements of the client. We offer a full development cycle, including architecture design, performance tuning and integration with various systems. Also, our specialists provide reliable support and modernization of existing applications, ensuring stable operation and compliance with the latest standards.
