A Brief Overview of Angular Elements!
Introduced by Google in 2009, Angular is a
fully-featured open-source JavaScript framework. Today, it is considered the
perfect pick for the creation of robust, adaptable, and high-maintainable apps.
As a result, it is largely preferred by several software professionals, small,
and large businesses, and even by numerous AngularJS development services
across the globe. Angular offers outstanding benefits like:
- The exceptional performance of
the apps
- Captivating UI with HTML
- Simplified MVC architecture
- Google’s persistent support
- Top-grade security
- Other technical goodies like
two-way data binding, POJO model, routing, flexibility with filters, etc.
Looking at these advantages, we can
comprehend why Angular JS app development is so
popular and is considered the next big technology in the software world.
So we have talked enough about the
significance of this futuristic framework. Now we will focus on a vital section
of Angular development- Angular elements and their functions.
What are Angular Elements?
Angular Elements are simple Angular
components packaged as HTML custom elements. Custom elements are a part of web
components. The custom elements enable the Angular developers to extend and
build tags of their own and they can be utilized without any dependencies. As a
result, one can make use of custom elements in Angular apps along with React or
Vue apps; it can be used in the backend as well.
Library of Angular elements act as a bridge
between custom web elements API and Angular components. Also, with these
elements, one can leverage Angular's dependency injection as well.
Angular elements are nothing but new HTML
custom elements. These elements solve the issues related to reusing code in
several frameworks. They provide a solution for using components of Angular in
non-Angular environments. These elements are reusable and framework
independent. Also, it is possible for Angular developers to upgrade AngularJS
apps to Angular using these elements or use Angular components within the
legacy AngularJS application.
For knowing Angular elements in depth, we
also need to have some basic knowledge of the custom elements and web
components. So let us have a glance at them too.
A bit about Custom Elements and Web
Components
Angular Elements are powered by custom
elements technology. These custom elements which are a part of web components
are encapsulated HTML tags that are required in web pages and web applications.
Web components are technologies that include HTML templates, shadow DOM, HTML
imports, along with custom elements. Any framework or library that makes use of
HTML can use these custom elements. They could be useful in static websites
too. Developers can build customized DOM elements with their own features and
functionality. Even the existing DOM elements can be modified.
For developing custom elements, an ES6
class needs to be created which is extended from an HTML element. Then this
class should be registered with the browser via an API-
‘CustomElementRegistry’. There are lifecycle hooks like ‘disconnectedCallback’
and ‘connectedCallback’ in custom elements which enable the Angular developers
to register interest in attributes. Additionally, custom elements, similar to
other DOM elements, may have events connected with them that use
‘addEventListener’.
Basic Steps to Get Started with
Angular Elements
Here are the general steps for creating a
reusable custom element. We need to note that since the concept of Angular
elements is in its early stages, there could be newer updates popping up later
and it could impact the development environment. So, let’s look at the steps to
get started.
- Creating and setting-up the
project: Install latest version of Angular CLI globally.
- Create Angular element: Add
Angular elements using ng add command. This command will add angular/elements
packages and other packages to make the angular component as custom element.
These custom elements need ES2015 classes. All browsers may not support ES2015
and custom elements, so the angular developer needs to use polyfill for the
support. For polyfill, web component needs to be installed. In order to use
component as angular element, one needs to first create the component or
existing components can also be used.
- Use component as a custom
element: Components that are referred in the templates are included by Angular
bundle and rest of them are ignored. This reference is done by adding component
in app Module.
- Packaging of all the elements:
Developers can make the build using angular cli. This will create a dist folder
with JavaScript files. So whenever these angular elements have to be used,
these JavaScript files have to be added in the project.
- Testing of Angular custom
element
Where can the Angular Elements be
used?
Well, Angular elements can be mostly used
anywhere by an AngularJS app development company. But, during the release of
these elements, they are optimized for containers and apps. There is still
research going on for using them conveniently for reusable widgets. So, here
are some areas where Angular elements can be used:
- Elements in Apps: Dynamic
components, Hybrid/Server-side rendering, CMS embeds
- Element Containers:
Micro-frontends, Mini-apps, SharePoint, ngUpgrade
- Reusable Widgets:
Cross-framework compatibility, Design systems- build once, use anywhere,
Material/CDK components in any environment
Concluding Words:
As we already know, Angular is a new-age
framework that has lots of power under its hood and Angular Elements make it
all the more powerful. Also, with the help of Angular Elements library, the
Angular code can be used in various applications across different frameworks.
These elements boost Angular app development to a great extent.
I hope this article provided you with important
insights on Angular Elements. Kindly drop us a mail at sales.enquiry@biz4solutions.com
for any further queries.
Are you looking for developing Angular
apps? Get in touch with Biz4Solutions, a renowned AngularJS
development company with 9+ years of global-level experience in providing web
and app development services. Hire well-experienced Angular developers for your
project and be rest assured of getting high-quality end-product, transparency
during the project, and timely results.

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