Difference Between Angular and AngularJS​: Key Differences

The world of web development is ever-changing as new technologies are constantly emerging, which is why web development frameworks have become so important for app development and maintenance. 

When it comes to building fast and efficient web applications, two frameworks frequently stand out - Angular and AngularJS. 

On the surface, they might not look all that different, but there are some very important fundamentals that every developer should know so that they are capable of deciding which is right for their next project.

This article will help you understand the key differences between Angular and AngularJS and how to choose one.

If you’re new to development or trying to gain skills, you’re going to get the clarity you need from this article. Let’s jump in and find out the difference between these two frameworks. 

What is AngularJS?

AngularJS was released in 2010 by Google. It is a JavaScript framework that was primarily designed to simplify the development of single-page applications (SPAs). 

It uses a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, where the logic is divided into three parts: the model (data), the view (UI), and the controller (logic). 

Developers can efficiently manage the intricacies of complex web applications due this separation provided. AngularJS introduced concepts like two-way data binding, dependency injection, and directives, which made it a powerful tool for front-end development during its time.

As the requirements for web applications got more sophisticated in the modern world, AngularJS started to expose its shortcomings in performance and scalability.

This resulted in the development of its replacement, Angular, which attempted to fix those issues with a complete design overhaul.

What is Angular?

Angular was introduced in 2016. It is the rewritten version of AngularJS. Unlike AngularJS, Angular is built using TypeScript. It is based on JavaScript and offers improved tooling, static typing, and better code management. 

When compared to AngularJS, it has a component-based architecture that makes it more modular and scalable.

Angular is also optimized for performance and the development of mobile-first applications, with better rendering and improved mobile support , which makes it well-suited for the development of larger, complicated, and high-performance web applications.

It also contains advanced traits such as RxJS (Reactive Extensions for JavaScript) to handle asynchronous programming, as well as improved testing utilities.

Evolution of Angular from AngularJS

The transition from AngularJS to Angular was a big turning point in web development, as more performance, more scalability, and more modern best practices were needed. Here’s what to know about this change:

AngularJS (2010):

• It is an open-source framework released by Google.
• Used for web application development that has dynamic features, built on single-page applications.
• Added concepts such as two-way data binding, directives, and dependency injection.
• Adopted Model-View-Controller (MVC) for easy decoupling of application logic.

Angular (2016):

• Angular was introduced as a substitute for AngularJS, and it’s a major rewrite of AngularJS, bringing changes to both architecture and logic.
• Written with TypeScript, which includes static typing and better tooling, which AngularJS did not have.
• Moved away from MVC-based architecture to component-based architecture for better modularity and maintainability.
• Added Ahead-of-Time (AOT) Compilation in order to render faster and improve the performance of the code.
• Mobile-first development for better support for mobile apps.

Why This Evolution Was Needed?

Here are some main reasons why this evolution was needed

1. Performance: AngularJS had performance issues as it carried out two-way data binding by digest cycle. Angular’s homed-in detection for change and immutable data flow offered a faster alternative, especially when dealing with large codebases.
2. Scalability: When applications became more complex, AngularJS had usability issues with complex projects. The modularity of Angular’s component architecture helped in creating scalable and highly maintainable applications.
3. Modernization: With the growing popularity of TypeScript and modern JavaScript practices, Angular’s move to TypeScript helped provide better error handling, tooling, and maintainability.
4. Mobile Optimization: Angular was built with mobile-first principles, whereas AngularJS was not optimized for mobile development.

Differences Between Angular and AngularJS

Now, “Is AngularJS the same as Angular?” No, it’s not; both are different.

Both have their differences, and some of the main distinctions are outlined below.

Features	Angular	AngularJS
Release Date	2016	2010
Architecture	Component-based architecture allows developers to work independently on different components.	MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. Here, the logic is divided into: Model, View, & Controller.
Language	TypeScript	JavaScript
Data Binding	Two-way binding	Two-way binding
Rendering	Uses virtual DOM and supports server-side rendering	Uses real DOM
Dependency Injection	A hierarchical dependency injection system is used	No dependency injection system
Testing	Provides a robust testing framework	Testing not built-in
Mobile Support	Better mobile support, optimized for mobile-first design	Not mobile-friendly
Performance	Faster performance due to optimized change detection	Slower performance compared to Angular
Learning Curve	The learning curve is steep because of the complex architecture and the use of the TypeScript language.	Easier to learn and use
Compatibility	Compatible with modern browsers and mobile devices	Compatible with older browsers and lacks mobile support

Pros and Cons of Each Framework

These are the pros and cons of each framework to help you better understand them and, in turn, help with better decision-making.

Pros of Angular

• Uses TypeScript: Angular is based on TypeScript, that provides features like static typing to minimize runtime errors as well as improve the quality of code.
• Quicker Performance: According to BrowserStack, Angular is seven times faster than AngularJS due to better implementation of change detection, data binding, and lazy loading.
• Component-Based Architecture: It follows a component-based model, which helps to develop app in a more modular, reusable, and maintainable fashion.
• Built-in CLI: You can scaffold, develop, test, and maintain your applications with ease using the command-line interface (CLI) built directly into the framework.
• Mobile Friendly: Angular is a mobile-centric framework. So it is better suited for developing mobile applications.

Cons of Angular

• Learning Curve: TypeScript is new to a lot of developers, and learning the language can be steep for newcomers.
• Complexity: Angular’s feature-rich architecture can be overwhelming for developers working on simpler or smaller applications.
• Documentation Weaknesses: While better now, the official Angular documentation could be more extensive, making it difficult to troubleshoot or find examples.

Pros of AngularJS

• Uses JavaScript: AngularJS is dependent on JavaScript, one of the most familiar languages, which means it’s simple for developers to get started.
• Clean Codebase: With the MVC architecture, AngularJS helps keep the code easy to maintain and manage.
• Two-Way Data Binding: Automatically syncs the model and view, minimizing the need for manual DOM manipulation and making the development process smoother.
• Built-in Dependency Injection: AngularJS simplifies object creation and testing, making it easier to develop modular, testable code.
• Routing Feature: AngularJS makes it easier to switch views without a page refresh, making SPAs (single-page applications) more user-friendly.

Cons of AngularJS

• Not Developer-Friendly: Although AngularJS is easy for designers to grasp, it can be hard to work with for developers, especially when handling larger applications.
• Not Scalable: AngularJS is not built to scale up; it’s more suitable for small web applications, and it’s a struggle for developers to handle larger apps with all the performance issues and reliance on two-way data binding.
• Limited Mobile Support: AngularJS was not intended to meet mobile-specific requirements, and it does not offer the mobile-first approach like Angular does.
• No Further Updates: In December 2021, the support for AngularJS officially stopped. This means that for new projects, using AngularJS is risky, as it will no longer receive updates or patches.

When to Use Angular vs. AngularJS?

Though both the frameworks have their pros and cons, there are some scenarios that make each of them a preferable choice. Below, we have shared some cases where you could use these frameworks flawlessly.

When to Use Angular:

Hiring Angular developers is suitable for large-scale and complex applications that demand performance, flexibility, and scalability. It’s great when you want to create a modern, feature-rich app with a mobile-first design. You might want to use Angular if:

• You want modularity: Angular is modular by design, and this makes it easier to maintain and scale up a large application.
• You need dynamic loading: Angular supports dynamic loading of the components, thus achieving efficiency of server-side rendering by loading only what is required.
• Performance: With features like Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, Angular optimizes the application’s runtime performance by reducing the time spent rendering views.
• You like a strong command-line interface: Angular’s CLI is very strong in terms of how you can use it for automating things, such as building, testing, and deploying applications, which helps with development.
• You require dependency injection: Angular has powerful dependency injection system to handle the complex state and dependencies of your application.
• You need multi-language support: Angular’s own TypeScript support leads to a more organized and robust coding experience.
• You want routing: Angular provides a complete routing solution for managing navigation in a single-page application (SPA).

When to Use AngularJS:

For smaller projects or older ones, AngularJS is the way to go. The framework is suitable for developers who want a less verbose framework and already work in the JavaScript ecosystem. Consider using AngularJS if:

• You seek code re-usability: AngularJS can reduce redundancy and development time by making code reusable.
• You want to take advantage of the MVC architecture: The Model-View-Controller pattern handles code organization in a way to ensure it’s easy to manage the various aspects of your application logic.
• Two-way Data Binding is a Must: AngularJS’s two-way data binding automatically keeps the model and view in sync, reducing the amount of code required for DOM manipulation.
• You require built-in unit testing: AngularJS comes with many built-in features to help the developers perform unit testing, thus reducing the efforts for the developers as well as increasing the efficiency of the code.
• You are comfortable with JavaScript: If you like working with JavaScript, since AngularJS is built on JavaScript, you might want to go with it.

If you have doubts about both these frameworks, you could also consider another alternative like React. Angular vs React is a popular discussion among developers as both offer unique strengths. 

As opposed to Angular, which is a full-blown, opinionated framework and includes everything to go to large-sized applications, React focuses on flexibility and simplicity, and is a library to primarily build user interfaces.

The choice of either usually depends on your project requirements, your team’s skills, and your future scalability considerations.

Now, based on all the information we have provided above, you can now choose the best front-end framework for your next project.

Conclusion

The difference between Angular and AngularJS​ is clear: Angular is a new, scalable, high-performant solution for one-way and two-way bindings and complex web applications. While AngularJS was fine for everyone in the original days of the web, Angular has stepped up to the challenge of the modern web. 

The decision to use one over the other depends on your project’s needs, but the best course of action long term appears to be Angular, for sustainability, performance, and the ability to keep things as consistent as possible.

As web development advances, Angular is only getting better, improving usability, practicality for developers, and speed on a global level. 

If you are new to front-end development, then using Angular will not only provide you with a better skill set but also makes sure you are using the right tool for the job.