So, let's talk about AngularJS. It's this cool JavaScript thing, a framework actually, that Google created back in 2010. Think of it as a tool that helps you build websites that feel more like apps – you know, those single-page sites that are super smooth and interactive. It was a pretty big deal because it made creating those types of sites easier, adding cool features like dynamic templates (so things change on the fly) and data binding, which makes everything just work together more seamlessly.
AngularJS really shook things up, and you'll still see its influence all over the web. Big players like PayPal, Upwork, and Netflix used it to make their sites feel really responsive. It's like the framework had a hand in making the web a bit more user-friendly, and it’s still a big deal in the web development world.
AngularJS is basically your go-to for creating single-page applications (SPAs). These are websites where you don't need to reload the whole page every time you do something; instead, it updates just the bits you need. It's much faster and feels more like using a native app. Imagine updating a social media feed or checking your email – AngularJS makes those seamless changes possible without the jarring page reloads.
You'll find AngularJS powering well-known apps like Google’s DoubleClick Ad Exchange, the video platform Vevo, and even the BBC Weather app. Big companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Verizon also use it for their web applications. It is still a common choice, even if newer technologies are available.
One of the best things about AngularJS is how it makes building dynamic websites less complicated. It gives you these reusable HTML elements called “directives” that can add some really powerful functionality to your site. Plus, it has some really neat features like “data binding” (where the data and what you see are always in sync) and “dependency injection” (which makes managing complex code much more straightforward). And, of course, because Google supports it, you get consistent updates and a really solid community that always has your back.
AngularJS also has built-in scalability, so it's a great choice for apps that need to be reliable and have long-term support. We, at Dirox, use this technology to build custom and high-performing solutions that are perfectly adapted to your business needs.
Okay, this can be a little confusing, but no, Angular and AngularJS are not the same thing. Angular is like a whole new version of AngularJS, rewritten from the ground up by the original creators. AngularJS uses JavaScript, but Angular uses TypeScript, making it better for building really large single-page applications. It's kind of like a sequel.
You've probably used apps built with AngularJS without even realizing it! Some well-known platforms include PayPal, Upwork, Netflix, and Gmail. It's also used for big data projects, like how The Guardian manages thousands of images each day. So, yeah, it's used for both those apps you use every day to enterprise-grade solutions.
AngularJS is a framework, which is a bit different from a library. It has a structure and gives you the tools for building complete applications on the client side. React is considered a library because it only focuses on the user interface itself and doesn't give you the entire application structure.
It does have a few downsides, like it really depends on JavaScript. If browsers have JavaScript turned off, the pages will not function properly. Plus, its size and complexity can sometimes make things a bit harder to optimize, and it doesn't play nicely with really old browsers like Internet Explorer 8.0.
This is a good question! While AngularJS is still around, it's often used for maintaining older applications. It's not the top choice for brand-new development due to the limitations we talked about, especially when it comes to performance and compatibility. Official support for it ended back in January 2022. It's usually a good idea to consider using the new Angular or something like React or Vue.js for any new project. But, for now, it's still relevant for maintaining all the apps that still use it.
