What is Angular, and how does it differ from other frameworks?

When it comes to frontend development, developers have many frameworks and libraries to choose from. Some of the most popular ones are Angular, React, and Vue. Each has its own advantages, disadvantages, and best use cases.

In this guide, we will take a simple and clear look at Angular, understand how it works, and compare it with React and Vue to help you decide which one to use.

What is Angular?

Angular is an open-source frontend framework developed and maintained by Google. It is mainly used for building single-page applications (SPAs). It is known for being well-structured, scalable, and full of built-in features. Unlike some other frameworks, Angular provides everything you need in one package.

Key Features of Angular

• Component-based architecture – The application is divided into smaller reusable parts called components.
• Two-way data binding – The UI and data stay in sync automatically.
• Dependency Injection (DI) – Makes it easier to manage and share data across the app.
• Built-in Directives – Special attributes that help modify how elements behave.
• Routing and Navigation – Comes with built-in tools for handling page navigation.
• Form Handling and Validation – Strong tools for working with forms and user input.
• Complete Ecosystem – Includes built-in tools for making HTTP requests, managing application state, and testing.

How Does Angular Work?

Angular follows a component-based architecture, which means the entire application is built using smaller, reusable components.

1. Architecture Overview

Angular apps consist of the following main parts:

• Modules (NgModules) – Older Versions
  • In older versions of Angular, applications were structured using NgModules. The main module (AppModule) acted as the central point where all components, services, and dependencies were registered. Additional modules were created to organize features better.
• Standalone Components – Newer Versions
  • In newer versions of Angular, the standalone component approach has been introduced. This allows developers to build Angular applications without using NgModules, making the structure simpler and reducing boilerplate code.
• Components – Each component controls a small part of the UI. A component consists of:
  • HTML Template – Defines what will be shown on the screen.
  • TypeScript Class – Contains the logic and behavior of the component.
  • CSS Styles – Defines how the component looks.
• Templates and Directives – Templates define the UI structure, and directives help modify how elements behave. Some common ones are:
  • *ngIf – Used for condition-based rendering.
  • *ngFor – Used to loop through arrays and display items dynamically.
• Data Binding – Helps in connecting data between the UI and the logic. Angular supports:
  • Interpolation ({{ }}) – Displays data in the UI.
  • Property Binding ([ ]) – Links component properties to HTML elements.
  • Event Binding (( )) – Handles user interactions like button clicks.
  • Two-way Binding ([( )]) – Syncs data between the UI and the component.
• Services and Dependency Injection – Services store reusable logic, and Angular’s dependency injection system makes it easy to share data between components.
• Routing – The Angular Router helps navigate between different pages of a single-page application.

How is Angular Different from React and Vue?

1. Language and Approach

• Angular is built with TypeScript, which makes the code more structured and maintainable.
• React and Vue mainly use JavaScript, though they also support TypeScript.

2. Framework vs Library

• Angular is a complete framework that comes with everything you need, like routing, form handling, and state management.
• React is just a UI library, so you need extra packages for things like routing.
• Vue is a progressive framework, meaning you can use it for small parts of a project or build a full application.

3. Data Binding

• Angular uses two-way data binding, meaning any changes in the UI automatically update the component data and vice versa.
• React follows a one-way data flow, which gives more control but requires extra effort for updates.
• Vue supports both one-way and two-way data binding, making it more flexible.

4. Performance

• Angular is sometimes slower to load because of its larger size, but it improves performance using Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation.
• React is lightweight and faster because of its Virtual DOM.
• Vue is also very fast due to its optimized rendering system.

5. Learning Curve

• Angular has a steep learning curve because it has many built-in features, and developers need to learn TypeScript, Dependency Injection, and RxJS.
• React is easier to learn, but large projects require additional tools like Redux for managing state.
• Vue is the easiest to learn as it has a simple structure and fewer concepts to understand.

6. Community and Ecosystem

• Angular is backed by Google and is widely used in enterprise-level applications.
• React has a huge community and is backed by Meta (Facebook), making it the most popular frontend technology.
• Vue is growing fast, especially among smaller projects and startups, and has great community support.

When Should You Use Angular?

Angular is a good choice if you are building:

• Large enterprise applications that need a well-structured codebase.
• Projects that need built-in solutions for things like routing and form handling.
• Applications that require high security and scalability, such as banking and healthcare systems.
• Projects where TypeScript is preferred for better maintainability.

However, if you want something more lightweight and easier to learn, React or Vue might be better choices.

Conclusion

Angular is a powerful and feature-rich framework that is great for building large, scalable applications. Although it has a steeper learning curve, it provides everything needed to build a structured and maintainable web application.

When choosing between Angular, React, and Vue, consider the size of your project, your team’s expertise, and what features you need.

For beginners, Angular might take some time to learn, but once you understand it, it offers a strong and organized way to develop web applications.