What Is Angular? A Quick Guide to the Web Framework
Let's talk about Angular. What is it? How does it work? Why should you learn it, and how can you get started today? This article will cover all of that and more.
What is Angular?
Angular is a TypeScript-based framework created by Google in 2016. This framework is designed for building professional and modern user interfaces. It is trusted and used by numerous top Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Samsung, PayPal, and many others.
Understanding TypeScript-Based Frameworks
For those unfamiliar with the term, let's break it down. TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript, meaning it extends JavaScript's capabilities. It helps improve developer productivity and significantly reduces runtime errors.
A framework, on the other hand, is a platform that provides a foundation for developing software applications. It essentially gives us the fundamental building blocks for a working application, allowing us to build from there as far and high as we want to go.
Component-Based Architecture
Angular utilizes a component-based architecture. At its core, this means sectioning off parts of a larger project into logical, smaller, functional pieces. These components can then be used and reused in various other parts of the application, promoting modularity and efficiency.
What Sets Angular Apart?
What truly distinguishes this framework from others are its extensive built-in features. It allows you to build complex applications without needing to search for third-party packages, as you might with a library like React.
To put this into perspective, using Angular is like receiving an entire kitchen when your goal is to cook dinner. You get the stove, the oven, the fridge, and so on. In contrast, many other frameworks provide just the stove and give you the flexibility to customize the rest of the kitchen to your liking.
Why Should You Learn Angular?
Now that we have a foundational understanding of what Angular is and how it works, let's explore why you should consider learning it.
- Industry Adoption: Angular remains one of the most commonly used web frameworks, according to the yearly survey on Stack Overflow. You can be reassured that it's a tool trusted and used by professionals in the field.
- The Power of TypeScript: The fact that Angular uses TypeScript is a significant advantage. The ability to use TypeScript in your programs is incredibly useful for improving efficiency and code quality.
- Consistent Updates: The Angular team at Google has committed to releasing a major update every six months. This ensures that the framework stays current with modern technologies and best practices in the ever-evolving world of tech.
