AngularJS

By Juned Laliwala

Short description of AngularJS

● What is AngularJS?
● A Complete Client-Side solution
● The Zen of Angular

@2016 Attune World Wide All right reserved.

www.attuneww.com
Contents
1. Preface .................................................................................................................3
1.1. About This Guide .............................................................................................3
1.2. Intended Audience .........................................................................................3
1.3. Revision History ..............................................................................................3
2. Introduction-AngularJS ........................................................................................4
2.1. Features of AngularJS .....................................................................................4
2.1.1. MVC Architecture ......................................................................................4
2.1.2. Two-way Data Binding ..............................................................................6
2.1.3. Templates .................................................................................................6
2.1.4. Directives ..................................................................................................7
2.1.5. Expressions ...............................................................................................8
2.1.6. Modules ...................................................................................................8
2.1.7. Scope .......................................................................................................8
2.1.8. Filters........................................................................................................9
2.2. Advantages and Disadvantages .................................................................... 10
3. Implementation with AngularJS .......................................................................... 12
3.1 Basic Syntax .................................................................................................. 12
3.1.1 app.js ....................................................................................................... 12
3.1.2 Creating a Module ................................................................................... 12
3.1.3 Creating a Controller ................................................................................ 13
3.2 Data Binding Concept ................................................................................... 14
3.3 Working with Class........................................................................................ 17
3.4 Implementing HTTP Services ........................................................................ 19
3.5 Implementing Two-Way Data Binding ........................................................... 22
4. Creating a State Controller ................................................................................. 25
5. Custom Directive ................................................................................................ 26
6. Creating getStates() function .............................................................................. 29
7. Routing .............................................................................................................. 31

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1. Preface

1.1. About This Guide

The main intense for making this guide is to make a better understanding of the new
framework named “AngularJS”. AngularJS is nothing but the framework for dynamic
web Apps. During this whole guide, we will be more focussing on the general syntax and
the coding of the framework needed to complete our task.

1.2. Intended Audience

This guided is intended for the developers or the beginners who want to have basic
understanding of the framework which are in demand on date. This can be helpful to the
students who are just entered into these coding techniques.

1.3. Revision History

This is the first book in the series of AngularJS 1.5.
This will cover the overall features and functionalities of AngularJS 1.5.

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2. Introduction-AngularJS
AngularJS is a structural framework for making dynamic web apps. Along with basic
HTML, it helps you to make HTML as a language templates and using HTMl syntax we
can express our application‟s component successfully. In AngularJS there is one great
functionality of data-binding which will eliminate much of the code you would otherwise
have to write . And it all happens within the browser, making it an ideal partner with
any server technology.
AngularJS is nothing but same as HTML. In HTML we are making dynamic web pages.
In addition to it does not contain much more creative way to work with application so
AngularJS will resolve this issue. In the coming sections we will see the reasons for the
above issue.
2.1. Features of AngularJS
AngularJS is a great JavaScript framework that have numerous number of
functionalities for not only developers, but designers as well!. In this guide, we will see
all the basic functionalities and the also see the practical implementation of our basic
features which are included as follws:
2.1.1. MVC Architecture
The first important feature, which comes to my mind, is the MVC or Model-View-
Controller architecture. The main reason for making MVC is to split the web
application into a more manageable structure. The MVC architecture comprises
of three important elements, the model, view and controller.
Model
The model is as the name suggest, we have to place our data into the model. This
particular data can be static or dyanlic, which can be tucked into a server that is
miles far away from the client, and this can be possessed using JSON.
A model comprises of a simple JavaScript object called the scope. Tied to a
controller, the model object receives the data (from the source) and delivers it to
a view (HTML).
myApp.controller(
'myController',
['$scope', function ($greet) {
$greet.greetings = function () {
$greet.theguest = 'Hello ' + $greet.name;
}
}]
);

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 In the above script, the $scope is an object in the model. See how it is
encapsulated inside the controller() method.

View
In Angular, the view comprises of HTML elements and directives. View is nothing
but the display that we want to see in our browser is view. Other than markups,
every view has as an expression (with curly braces), which is tied up to the scope
object.
<div ng-app="myApp" ng-controller="myController">

<p>Enter your name <input type="text" ng-model="name" /></p>

<p><input type="button" value="Click Me" ng-click="greetings()" /></p>

<p> {{ theguest }} </p>

</div>

The above piece of markup, also known as Template in Angular, when bound,
complied and loaded on the browser is then called the view.
Controller
The controller actually controls the entire business logic of your application. The
initial stage is set here, that is, it initializes and registers the application by
creating a new Angular Module.
(function (){
var app = angular.module(‘myapp ’, [ ]);
app.controller(‘mycontroller’,function(){
}
}();
In the above example, we can see that we have made one module named
“myapp”. Inside this module we have created one controlled named
“mycontroller” which is made using “app.controller”.

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 2.1.2. Two-way Data Binding
Angular Data-Binding creates a link between model and view.

The two-way Data Binding is an extraordinary feature ever integrated in a

JavaScript framework. In two-way data binding, any change made in the view
will reflect in model, similarly changes made in the model will reflect in the view.
It is a two way process.

In Angular, we need to use the ng-model directive to create a two-way data

binding. This directive will bind the model to the view. We'll do an example to
understand the process better.

<div ng-app="">
<p>
<label>Current Bid Value</label>
<input type="text" ng-model="bid" ng-init="bid ='75'" />
</p>
<p> ${{bid}} </p>

</div>

2.1.3. Templates
In Angular, a template usually means a view with HTML elements attached to
Angular Directives , add markup for data binding using expressions (with curly
braces).

<div ng-app="BiddingApp">
<input type="text" ng-model="bid" />

<p> ${{bid}} </p>

</div>

An Angular template is exactly the same as HTML, except for its attributes. If we
want to make it dynamic we have to work with model and controller.
Now let us see the main elements and the successive attributes which basically
makes up the template.

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 a) Directive – In the above example, the ng-app and ng-model are directives.

b) Markup – Binding the view with a model using the curly braces {{ bid }}
(expressions) is the markup.

c) Filters – Filters are useful for formatting the value in an expression. It is very
useful. I have explained about filters later in this article.

d) Form Controls – We can use Angular Form Controls to validate user inputs.
Let us assume the form has an input field, which accepts email ids only. The form
control will validate the input and display a message if the value is invalid.

2.1.4. Directives
Angular Directives are attributes applied in the View. Attached to HTML
elements, the directives augment the elements with new beha0viors. Did you see
the above examples; each element has directives, prefixed with ng-. Whenever we
attach a directive with an element, it tells AngularJS that it is a part of Angular
app and Angular treats it that way.

Here in this example, I have used useful directive, called the ng-include, to add
the content of an .html file.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script
src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.3.8/angular.min.js"><
/script>
</head>
<body>
<div ng-app>
<div ng-include="'hello-world.htm'"></div>
</div>
</body>
</html>

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 The example has two distinct directives. The first is the ng-app to initialize the
app. This will tell Angular about the app and its features. Next is the ng-include
directive, which is useful for displaying data extracted from an external file.

2.1.5. Expressions
Angular Expressions are JavaScript like expressions, however with lots of
difference. Written inside two curly braces, these expressions will bind Angular
application data to HTML elements.

2.1.6. Modules
In the section of the MVC, we have seen the architecture which helps in designing
Angular application by splitting the app into little manageable structures. The
Modules are pillar of this architecture. A module creates a well-defined structure,
which will keep everything organized, at one place.

A single application may more than one module. By creating a new module, each
application is first initialized and registered.

<script>
// INITIALIZE FIRST APP.
var mailApp = angular.module('myMails', []);

// INITIALIZE THE SECOND APP.

var bullionApp = angular.module('myMoney', []);
</script>

2.1.7. Scope
A Scope is a JavaScript object that sits inside the model, and delivers data to the
view. The view‟s expression will receive the value(s) from the $scope and display
the result exactly where the expression is located.
<div ng-app="myMoney" ng-controller="moneyController">
<p>Dollar Today: {{ rate }} </p>
</div>

<script>
var bullionApp = angular.module('myMoney', []);

bullionApp.controller(

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 'moneyController',
['$scope', function ($currency) {
$currency.rate = '62.15';
}]
);
</script>

Output
Dollar Today: 62.15

See, how the expression property rate in the view is accessed inside the controller
using $scope. The variable $currency is passed to the controller and assigns the
value to the property rate.

2.1.8. Filters
An Angular Filter modifies the data before presenting it to the user. We can use
these filters with expressions and directives. A filter is usually a predefined
keyword, used with the symbol “|” (a pipe).
While explaining about Template in this article (see the template section above), I
have used an expression to display the bid amount.
<div ng-app="BiddingApp">
<input type="text" ng-model="bid" />

<p> ${{bid}} </p>

</div>

The expression has a text inside the curly braces {{bid}} and is prefixed with the
“$” (dollar) sign. The Angular Filter currency would spare me from using the “$”
sign. Simply add a “|” pipe after the text bid and add currency.

<p> {{bid | currency}} </p>

Filters are case-sensitive. Therefore, be careful while adding it in your application.Some

commonly used filters are…
a) currency b) number c) uppercase d) lowercase e) date f) orderBy g) filter

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2.2. Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages

No need to use observable functions; Angular is big and complicated. With

Angular analyses the page DOM and builds multiple ways to do the same thing it is

the bindings based on the Angular-specific hard to tell which way is better for

element attributes. That requires less particular task. Mastering Angular over the

writing, the code is cleaner, easier to “Hello world” level requires considerable

understand and less error prone. efforts. Different developers‟ coding styles

and habits might complicate integration of

different components into a whole

solution.

Angular modifies the page DOM directly The lifecycle of Angular application is

instead of adding inner HTML code. That complex, and to master it you really need

is faster. to read the code. Compile and link are not

intuitive, and specific cases can be

confusing (recursion in compile, collisions

between directives etc.).

Data binding occurs not on each control or As the project grows with time, you most

value change (no change listeners) but at likely will need to throw away existing

particular points of the JavaScript code implementations and create new versions

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execution. That dramatically improves using different approaches. Angular

performance as a single bulk Model/View implementations scale poorly.

update replaces hundreds of cascading

data change events.

Quite a number of different ways to do the More than 2000 watchers can severely lag

same things, thus accommodating to the UI. That limits the complexity of your

particular development styles and tasks. Angular forms, especially big data grids

and lists.

Extended features such as dependency

injection, routing, animations, view

orchestration, and more.

Supported by IntelliJ IDEA and Visual

Studio .NET IDEs.

Supported by Google and a great

development community.

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3. Implementation with AngularJS

3.1 Basic Syntax

In this section, we are going to see the general syntax of the Javascript file, modules and
controller.

3.1.1 app.js
This JavaScript file plays a vital role in our angularjs projects. This file is the
javascript of the application. Whenever we are starting with our application the
main important work is that the developers will have to start making their
functionalities of the project using the syntax as shown below.

Fig: General Syntax of app.js file

The syntax shown above depicts that app.js file includes one function and that
function is nothing but the functionalities of the application.
As we can see that function() is included inside the two round-brackets “( )”. So
we should remember this point.

3.1.2 Creating a Module

Module in general term is a container of different parts like controllers, services,
filters, directives, etc..
Most applications have a main method that instantiates and wires together the
different parts of the application.

Angular apps don't have a main method. Instead modules declaratively specify
how an application should be bootstrapped. There are several advantages to this
approach:

 The declarative process is easier to understand.

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 You can package code as reusable modules.
The modules can be loaded in any order (or even in parallel) because
modules delay execution.
 Unit tests only have to load relevant modules, which keeps them fast.
 End-to-end tests can use modules to override configuration.
The module is made in app.js file as :

Fig: Creating a Module

As we can see from the above figure that the name of the module is
“funwithcountries”. The module is created with angular.module.

3.1.3 Creating a Controller

In Angular, a Controller is defined by a JavaScript constructor function that is
used to augment the Angular Scope.

When a Controller is attached to the DOM via the ng-controller directive, Angular
will instantiate a new Controller object, using the specified Controller's
constructor function. A new child scope will be created and made available as an
injectable parameter to the Controller's constructor function as $scope.

If the controller has been attached using the controller as syntax then the
controller instance will be assigned to a property on the new scope.

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 Fig: Creating a Controller
As from the diagram we can say that the name of the controller is
“CountryController”. Controller is created with “app.controller”.

3.2 Data Binding Concept

In the previous section we have almost seen the basic meaning of the term data
binding. In this section we will see the practical implementation of the data
binding.
Consider the following diagram:

Fig: Controller with some function

From the above diagram we can say that inside the CountryController we are
including one function and this function is recognized with variable “countries”.
Inside the countries method we have one parameter named “name” which
specifies that the name of the country is India.
Now if we reward back to our main web page where our file is made to call our

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 method. Here we are using HTML file coding.

Fig: Data Binding

In the above diagram we have one HTML file, in which there is one division part.
Inside that division part we are calling our controller named “CountryController”
using a directive named ng-controller.
{{countryCtrl.countries.name}} indicates that we are binding the parameter
named “name” which is included in “countries” variable which is inside the
“CountryController” Controller.
Remember that we have given the short name of CountryController as
countryCtrl in our div part.

Fig: Controller with more parameters

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 From the above figure we can see that we have included more parameters. Apart
from name, we have also included code and various states of the countries. So we
have different countries with different parameters.
Suppose we want to list only the names of the country. So we will use the

Fig: Controller with only Name of Country

We have used “c” as short name for countries part of CountryController. So we
are just binding the values using {{c.name}} which means the name of the
countries will only is displayed.

Fig: Controller with States

This diagram shows that we have listed the states of different countries in the
page.

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3.3 Working with Class
In this guide we are referring to the word “class”, which means that we are referring to
store some definite amount of values into our application. Apart from the database we
will enter the values statically to show how the application works. So now we will create
a Country class and State Class to point to the country and state.

Fig: Country.php
As we can see that Country Class have three parameters named name, code and state. In
the next function named construct, we are importing our parameter to this parameters.
This parameter basically points to our name, code and state of the country that we are
importing.

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 Fig: CountryRepository.php
We are referring to this file just for entering the values statically. As we can see that we
have made one variable named “$countries” which initially holds an array variable. In
the next function we are initiating the countries variable by using array_push function.
To call to this particular values we are referring to the getCountries( ) named
function.
getCountries( ) initially checks whether all the parameters within the countries variable
are empty. If they are empty then filling of $countries variable starts and we will insert
the values into the application.

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 Fig: getCountries.php
This is the file to get the parameter of the countries variable.

3.4 Implementing HTTP Services

The $http service is a core Angular service that facilitates communication with the
remote HTTP servers via the browser's XMLHttpRequest object or via JSONP.

// Simple GET request example:

$http({
method: 'GET',
url: '/someUrl'
}).then(function successCallback(response) {
// this callback will be called asynchronously
// when the response is available
}, function errorCallback(response) {
// called asynchronously if an error occurs
// or server returns response with an error status.
});

Fig: General syntax of implementing $http services

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The response object has these properties:

data – {string|Object} – The response body transformed with the transform functions.
status – {number} – HTTP status code of the response.
headers – {function([headerName])} – Header getter function.
config – {Object} – The configuration object that was used to generate the request.
statusText – {string} – HTTP status text of the response.

A response status code between 200 and 299 is considered a success status and will
result in the success callback being called. Note that if the response is a redirect,
XMLHttpRequest will transparently follow it, meaning that the error callback will not be
called for such responses.

Fig: Implementing $http in CountryController

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 3.4.1 Working with HTTP Services
Application developers are free to define their own services by registering the
service's name and service factory function, with an Angular module.

The service factory function generates the single object or function that
represents the service to the rest of the application. The object or function
returned by the service is injected into any component (controller, service, filter
or directive) that specifies a dependency on the service.

Fig: Creating “countryService”

Inside the Country Controller we are creating new service named

“countryService” using app.factory() method. The working of the countryService
is simple as it is using the getCountries file.

Now if we recall back to our previous file that we were using $http method,
instead of it we will now use countryService to get the getCountries file.

Fig: Calling the countryService

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3.5 Implementing Two-Way Data Binding

Two-way Data Binding concept is to input and output the same values at the same time.
Here in this guide we will insert the value of a new state into a country by adding a new
textbox as shown below.

Fig: Two-Way Data Binding

From the figure we can see that we have used ng-model to bind a value to our
application. Inside the CountryController we have implemented a new method named
“newState”.

Fig: Output of Two-Way Data Binding

This data binding was just simply to show the process of doing the two-way binding.
Now in the next section we will see the process to enter the value into the application.

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 Fig: Adding a method inside Controller
From the figure we can see that we are using ng-click to direct our call to addStateTo ()
function which is going to add the state in a particular country.

Fig: Calling a method inside controller

As we can see that a new function has been added to the controller. This function will
basically add a state to the country. Here also two-way data binding will take place but
the result will be stored into particular country.

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 Fig: Output of Two-way Data Binding

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4. Creating a State Controller
From the sections covered so far, we have seen that this application is being working on
the two main blocks namely Country and State. So now what we will do, we will just
make a new controller named “StateController”.
This StateController will take the responsibility of the state part.

Fig: StateController
Now as we have made changes in our StateController , we will simultaneously have to
make changes into our HTML file as :

Fig:HTML file with StateController

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5. Custom Directive
Custom directives are used in AngularJS to extend the functionality of HTML. Custom
directives are defined using "directive" function. A custom directive simply replaces the
element for which it is activated. AngularJS application during bootstrap finds the
matching elements and do one time activity using its compile() method of the custom
directive then process the element using link() method of the custom directive based on
the scope of the directive. AngularJS provides support to create custom directives for
following type of elements.

Element directives − Directive activates when a matching element is encountered.

Attribute − Directive activates when a matching attribute is encountered.

CSS − Directive activates when a matching css style is encountered.

Comment − Directive activates when a matching comment is encountered.

Fig: General Syntax of Custom Directive

From the diagram we can depict that we are creating one new directive named
“stateView” which are having different parameters namely:
Restrict: „E‟: directive is Element directive
templateUrl: Path where to view
controller: The functionality of the controller that we have to use.
controllerAs: The name of the Controller to which we are focussing.

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 Fig: Directive with addStateTo function
From the diagram we can say that in the state-view directive we are making one
functionality to add a state to our country. The Controller that we are referring is State
Controller. The Functionality of adding the state remains the same.

In the above figure we can see that we have removed the part of the state Controller and
named it as <state-view></state-view> which primarily means that we are including the
state-view.html file inside that part. So whatever part that we have included in state-
view.html will be displayed in that part.

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 Fig: <state-view>

Fig: state-view.html

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6. Creating getStates() function
As we know that we have now made a state controller for handling various activities
related to state. So now we will make getStates( ) file to retrieve the list of the states
specific to particular country code. As we can see that we are passing the parameters to
get the countrycode.

Fig: getStates.php

Fig: getStates() function in CountryRepository.php

As we can see from the getStates.php file, that we are referring country repository
file so we are including the functions of getStates with parameter countryCode as
we want the results with respect to countryCode.

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 Fig: Output of getStates.php

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7. Routing
The ngRoute module provides routing and deep linking services and directives for
angular applications. You have to download the file (angular-route.js) containing the
ngRoute module from AngularJS official website to use the routing feature.

Fig: General Scenario of Loading Framework

Routing generally works on the basis of angular-route.js. So angular-route.js file should

be mandatorily included in between angular.js and app.js.

Fig: Usage of ng-view

The ngView directive is used to display the HTML templates or views in the specified
routes. Every time the current route changes, the included view changes with it
according to the configuration of the $route service.

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 Fig: General Syntax of Routing
$routeProvider : The $routeProvider (provider in ngRoute Module) is used to
configure the routes. We use the module‟s config() to configure the $routeProvider.
The config() takes a function which takes the $routeProvider as parameter and the
routing configuration goes inside the function.

$routeProvider has a simple API, accepting either the when() or otherwise() method.
The when() method takes a path and a route as parameters. The path is a part of the
URL after the # symbol. The route contains two properties named templateUrl and
controller. The templateUrl property tells which HTML template AngularJS should load
and display inside the div with the ngView directive. The controller property tells which
controllers should be used with the HTML template.

When the application is loaded, the path is matched against the part of the URL after
the # symbol. If no route paths matches the given URL the browser will be redirected to
the path specified in the otherwise() function.

After taking a long consideration on the above sections we have seen the various ways of
using AngularJS. So the main part that after routing takes place in our application is as
shown below.

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 Fig: Routing in “funwithcountries”
If we look at this diagram, we are using the parameter named “$routeProvider”, so our
main focus will be to view different pages on the basis of this parameter. Here we are
using one important part that is “.when” which means that when the URL will find the
path that we are passing in it then it will migrate the path to the templateUrl thatwe
have given to it.

Fig: state-view.html
After moving to the desired path the controller part will come into action and the
functionality that have been provided will be performed. In our application this part is
getting the name of the states as per the countryCode.

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In addition to it we are also adding the states into particular country. So routing part
plays a vital role in any of the AngularJS application.

Fig: Desired Output

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