Angular - the framework for JavaScript and what are the benefits

Due to its complexity, the development of individual web applications has long been limited to exceptions, carried out through custom and manually written code in a programming language, i.e., "from scratch" without the help of additional tools or libraries. Instead, it typically utilises aids such as the frameworks Angular, React, or vue.js developed for JavaScript, which ensure rapid development with high security and universal flexibility in application. This approach offers so many diverse advantages that efficient programming without Angular or similar frameworks seems unimaginable in many situations today.

What is Angular?

Angular is often referred to as a Framework for JavaScript - however, this is an anachronistic, albeit understandable mistake. In fact, this only applies to its predecessor, which its developers have since renamed AngularJS for greater clarity and is now maintained separately from Angular. The current version, on the other hand, is a Framework for TypeScript, which is a development of JavaScript designed by Microsoft, but with full compatibility with older standards.

This backward compatibility is based on the approach of the TypeScript compiler, which first translates the commands into pure Plain JavaScript before transferring them into machine-readable code for the processor. For this reason, Angular can also be used with common libraries written in JavaScript like jQuery, significantly enhancing functionality and extensibility through external libraries. However, it must be strictly noted that while Angular is backward compatible with JavaScript, it is not compatible with its own versions including AngularJS.

What are the characteristics that distinguish Angular?

To simplify the code, increase performance, and respond to new challenges, the new version has been completely rewritten and therefore differs significantly from its predecessor. Some of the features of the framework include:

• Hierarchical architecture with components instead of controllers or "scopes"
• Simple, clear, and intuitive syntax
• Focus on applicability across different platforms and mobile devices
• Dynamic loading of content and data
• Active modification of appearance and behaviour through tags
• High modularity for outsourcing functions
• Lighter, faster, and more efficient core code with externally loaded extensions
• Support for the benefits of ECMAScript 6 as an extension of JavaScript

Due to its numerous advantages, it is generally recommended to switch from JavaScript to TypeScript for new projects, even if this may not be strictly necessary for functionality.

Which frameworks offer similar functionality to Angular?

For a long time, the library jQuery was considered the standard in JavaScript, as it allowed for a universal abstraction layer that ensured high interoperability between different browsers. With new and universal standards on clients, this task has largely become obsolete. A similar situation applies to the long-standing popular Ember framework, which is also losing significance. Currently, the main alternatives to Angular are the direct competitors React and vue.js, which also boast a high market share, a large community, and a dedicated and active team. Additionally, some relatively new frameworks such as Preact or Svelte are also gaining importance.

An essential advantage Angular has over other open-source frameworks, especially vue.js, is that they do not rely on the support of financially and technically strong corporations. For example, Angular is used by Google and React by Facebook in various products, with their development being supported and maintained by their own resources. These practical advantages in technical expertise, IT infrastructure, and marketing are challenging for competitors to compensate for, even if they exhibit similar qualities and very interesting and innovative approaches.

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