---
category: tool
tool: AngularJS
contributors:
- ["Walter Cordero", "http://waltercordero.com"]
filename: learnangular.html
---
## AngularJS Tutorial.
AngularJS version 1.0 was released in 2012.
Miško Hevery, a Google employee, started to work with AngularJS in 2009.
The idea turned out very well, and the project is now officially supported by Google.
AngularJS is a JavaScript framework. It can be added to an HTML page with a "script" tag.
AngularJS extends HTML attributes with Directives, and binds data to HTML with Expressions.
##What You Should Already Know
Before you study AngularJS, you should have a basic understanding of:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
```html
// AngularJS is a JavaScript framework. It is a library written in JavaScript.
// AngularJS is distributed as a JavaScript file, and can be added to a web page with a script tag:
//
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Extends HTML
//AngularJS extends HTML with ng-directives.
//The ng-app directive defines an AngularJS application.
//The ng-model directive binds the value of HTML controls (input, select, textarea) to application data.
//The ng-bind directive binds application data to the HTML view.
Name:
/*
* Example explained:
* AngularJS starts automatically when the web page has loaded.
* The ng-app directive tells AngularJS that the
element is the "owner" of an AngularJS application.
* The ng-model directive binds the value of the input field to the application variable name.
* The ng-bind directive binds the innerHTML of the
element to the application variable name.
*/
Here are content to be intrepreted
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Expressions
// AngularJS expressions are written inside double braces: {{ expression }}.
// AngularJS expressions binds data to HTML the same way as the ng-bind directive.
// AngularJS will "output" data exactly where the expression is written.
// AngularJS expressions are much like JavaScript expressions: They can contain literals, operators, and variables.
// Example {{ 5 + 5 }} or {{ firstName + " " + lastName }}
My first expression: {{ 5 + 5 }}
//If you remove the ng-app directive, HTML will display the expression as it is, without solving it:
My first expression: {{ 5 + 5 }}
// AngularJS expressions bind AngularJS data to HTML the same way as the ng-bind directive.
Name:
{{name}}
// AngularJS numbers are like JavaScript numbers:
Total in dollar: {{ quantity * cost }}
//AngularJS strings are like JavaScript strings:
The name is
//AngularJS objects are like JavaScript objects:
The name is {{ person.lastName }}
//AngularJS arrays are like JavaScript arrays:
The third result is {{ points[2] }}
// Like JavaScript expressions, AngularJS expressions can contain literals, operators, and variables.
// Unlike JavaScript expressions, AngularJS expressions can be written inside HTML.
// AngularJS expressions do not support conditionals, loops, and exceptions, while JavaScript expressions do.
// AngularJS expressions support filters, while JavaScript expressions do not.
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Directives
//AngularJS directives are extended HTML attributes with the prefix ng-.
//The ng-app directive initializes an AngularJS application.
//The ng-init directive initializes application data.
//The ng-model directive binds the value of HTML controls (input, select, textarea) to application data.
Name:
You wrote: {{ firstName }}
//Using ng-init is not very common. You will learn how to initialize data in the chapter about controllers.
//The ng-repeat directive repeats an HTML element:
{{ x }}
//The ng-repeat directive used on an array of objects:
{{ x.name + ', ' + x.country }}
// AngularJS is perfect for database CRUD (Create Read Update Delete) applications.
// Just imagine if these objects were records from a database.
// The ng-app directive defines the root element of an AngularJS application.
// The ng-app directive will auto-bootstrap (automatically initialize) the application when a web page is loaded.
// Later you will learn how ng-app can have a value (like ng-app="myModule"), to connect code modules.
// The ng-init directive defines initial values for an AngularJS application.
// Normally, you will not use ng-init. You will use a controller or module instead.
// You will learn more about controllers and modules later.
//The ng-model directive binds the value of HTML controls (input, select, textarea) to application data.
//The ng-model directive can also:
//Provide type validation for application data (number, email, required).
//Provide status for application data (invalid, dirty, touched, error).
//Provide CSS classes for HTML elements.
//Bind HTML elements to HTML forms.
//The ng-repeat directive clones HTML elements once for each item in a collection (in an array).
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Controllers
// AngularJS controllers control the data of AngularJS applications.
// AngularJS controllers are regular JavaScript Objects.
// AngularJS applications are controlled by controllers.
// The ng-controller directive defines the application controller.
// A controller is a JavaScript Object, created by a standard JavaScript object constructor.
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Name: {{firstName + " " + lastName}}
//Application explained:
//The AngularJS application is defined by ng-app="myApp". The application runs inside the
.
//The ng-controller="myCtrl" attribute is an AngularJS directive. It defines a controller.
//The myCtrl function is a JavaScript function.
//AngularJS will invoke the controller with a $scope object.
//In AngularJS, $scope is the application object (the owner of application variables and functions).
//The controller creates two properties (variables) in the scope (firstName and lastName).
//The ng-model directives bind the input fields to the controller properties (firstName and lastName).
//The example above demonstrated a controller object with two properties: lastName and firstName.
//A controller can also have methods (variables as functions):
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Name: {{fullName()}}
//In larger applications, it is common to store controllers in external files.
//Just copy the code between the tags into an external file named personController.js:
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Name: {{firstName + " " + lastName}}
// For the next example we will create a new controller file:
angular.module('myApp', []).controller('namesCtrl', function($scope) {
$scope.names = [
{name:'Jani',country:'Norway'},
{name:'Hege',country:'Sweden'},
{name:'Kai',country:'Denmark'}
];
});
//Save the file as namesController.js:
//And then use the controller file in an application:
{{ x.name + ', ' + x.country }}
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Filers
// Filters can be added to expressions and directives using a pipe character.
// AngularJS filters can be used to transform data:
- **currency**: Format a number to a currency format.
- **filter**: Select a subset of items from an array.
- **lowercase**: Format a string to lower case.
- **orderBy**: Orders an array by an expression.
- **uppercase**: Format a string to upper case.
//A filter can be added to an expression with a pipe character (|) and a filter.
//(For the next two examples we will use the person controller from the previous chapter)
//The uppercase filter format strings to upper case:
The name is {{ lastName | uppercase }}
//The lowercase filter format strings to lower case:
The name is {{ lastName | lowercase }}
//The currency filter formats a number as currency:
Total = {{ (quantity * price) | currency }}
//A filter can be added to a directive with a pipe character (|) and a filter.
//The orderBy filter orders an array by an expression:
{{ x.name + ', ' + x.country }}
//An input filter can be added to a directive with a pipe character (|)
//and filter followed by a colon and a model name.
//The filter filter selects a subset of an array:
{{ (x.name | uppercase) + ', ' + x.country }}
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS AJAX - $http
//$http is an AngularJS service for reading data from remote servers.
// The following data can be provided by a web server:
// http://www.w3schools.com/angular/customers.php
// **Check the URL to see the data format**
// AngularJS $http is a core service for reading data from web servers.
// $http.get(url) is the function to use for reading server data.
{{ x.Name + ', ' + x.Country }}
Application explained:
// The AngularJS application is defined by ng-app. The application runs inside a
.
// The ng-controller directive names the controller object.
// The customersCtrl function is a standard JavaScript object constructor.
// AngularJS will invoke customersCtrl with a $scope and $http object.
// $scope is the application object (the owner of application variables and functions).
// $http is an XMLHttpRequest object for requesting external data.
// $http.get() reads JSON data from http://www.w3schools.com/angular/customers.php.
// If success, the controller creates a property (names) in the scope, with JSON data from the server.
// Requests for data from a different server (than the requesting page), are called cross-site HTTP requests.
// Cross-site requests are common on the web. Many pages load CSS, images, and scripts from different servers.
// In modern browsers, cross-site HTTP requests from scripts are restricted to same site for security reasons.
// The following line, in our PHP examples, has been added to allow cross-site access.
header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *");
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Tables
// Displaying tables with angular is very simple:
{{ x.Name }}
{{ x.Country }}
// To sort the table, add an orderBy filter:
{{ x.Name }}
{{ x.Country }}
// To display the table index, add a
with $index:
{{ $index + 1 }}
{{ x.Name }}
{{ x.Country }}
// Using $even and $odd
{{ x.Name }}
{{ x.Name }}
{{ x.Country }}
{{ x.Country }}
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS HTML DOM
//AngularJS has directives for binding application data to the attributes of HTML DOM elements.
// The ng-disabled directive binds AngularJS application data to the disabled attribute of HTML elements.
Button
//Application explained:
// The ng-disabled directive binds the application data mySwitch to the HTML button's disabled attribute.
// The ng-model directive binds the value of the HTML checkbox element to the value of mySwitch.
// If the value of mySwitch evaluates to true, the button will be disabled:
// If the value of mySwitch evaluates to false, the button will not be disabled:
// The ng-show directive shows or hides an HTML element.
I am visible.
I am not visible.
// The ng-show directive shows (or hides) an HTML element based on the value of ng-show.
// You can use any expression that evaluates to true or false:
I am visible.
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Events
// AngularJS has its own HTML events directives.
// The ng-click directive defines an AngularJS click event.
{{ count }}
// The ng-hide directive can be used to set the visibility of a part of an application.
// The value ng-hide="true" makes an HTML element invisible.
// The value ng-hide="false" makes the element visible.
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Name: {{firstName + " " + lastName}}
//Application explained:
// The first part of the personController is the same as in the chapter about controllers.
// The application has a default property (a variable): $scope.myVar = false;
// The ng-hide directive sets the visibility, of a
element with two input fields,
// according to the value (true or false) of myVar.
// The function toggle() toggles myVar between true and false.
// The value ng-hide="true" makes the element invisible.
// The ng-show directive can also be used to set the visibility of a part of an application.
// The value ng-show="false" makes an HTML element invisible.
// The value ng-show="true" makes the element visible.
// Here is the same example as above, using ng-show instead of ng-hide:
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Name: {{firstName + " " + lastName}}
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Modules
// An AngularJS module defines an application.
// The module is a container for the different parts of an application.
// The module is a container for the application controllers.
// Controllers always belong to a module.
// This application ("myApp") has one controller ("myCtrl"):
{{ firstName + " " + lastName }}
// It is common in AngularJS applications to put the module and the controllers in JavaScript files.
// In this example, "myApp.js" contains an application module definition, while "myCtrl.js" contains the controller:
{{ firstName + " " + lastName }}
//myApp.js
var app = angular.module("myApp", []);
// The [] parameter in the module definition can be used to define dependent modules.
// myCtrl.js
app.controller("myCtrl", function($scope) {
$scope.firstName = "John";
$scope.lastName= "Doe";
});
// Global functions should be avoided in JavaScript. They can easily be overwritten
// or destroyed by other scripts.
// AngularJS modules reduces this problem, by keeping all functions local to the module.
// While it is common in HTML applications to place scripts at the end of the
// element, it is recommended that you load the AngularJS library either
// in the or at the start of the .
// This is because calls to angular.module can only be compiled after the library has been loaded.
{{ firstName + " " + lastName }}
///////////////////////////////////
// AngularJS Applications
// AngularJS modules define AngularJS applications.
// AngularJS controllers control AngularJS applications.
// The ng-app directive defines the application, the ng-controller directive defines the controller.
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Name: {{firstName + " " + lastName}}
// AngularJS modules define applications:
var app = angular.module('myApp', []);
// AngularJS controllers control applications:
app.controller('myCtrl', function($scope) {
$scope.firstName= "John";
$scope.lastName= "Doe";
});
```
## Source & References
**Examples**
- http://www.w3schools.com/angular/angular_examples.asp
**References**
- http://www.w3schools.com/angular/angular_ref_directives.asp
- http://www.w3schools.com/angular/default.asp
- https://teamtreehouse.com/library/angular-basics/
Feedback is welcome! You can find me in:
[@WalterC_87](https://twitter.com/WalterC_87), or
[me@waltercordero.com](mailto:me@waltercordero.com).