Angular 2 is an open source JavaScript framework developed by Google and released in 2016. It is a completely re-written version of AngularJS, which was the original version of the framework released in 2010. Angular 2 was built to support the latest web technology and to provide more flexibility and scalability to projects using it. It works in collaboration with JavaScript and HTML, making it easier to create highly interactive web applications with more efficient code.

What is Angular 2?

Angular 2 is a powerful JavaScript framework that was built to address the challenges of single page application (SPA) development. This type of development involves creating websites and web applications that can dynamically update the same page with new data each time a new request or interaction is made – this is opposed to traditional web development practices where the entire page reloads and starts from scratch each time a request is made. With Angular 2, developers can create complex web applications that are easy to maintain and extend.

The framework works with components, which are pieces of code that allow developers to create various elements on a page. Components in Angular 2 are independent of one another so that when changes are made to one component, other components are not affected. This makes it easy to work with code and also keeps the application organized.

Advantages of Using Angular 2

Angular 2 offers many advantages over its predecessors, including the following:

• Ease of Use: Angular 2 is easy to learn and use compared to other frameworks. It also simplifies the development process because it includes features like components and directives.
• High Performance: Angular 2 uses a fast virtual DOM which updates quickly and efficiently when changes are made. This lets developers build faster, more responsive web applications.
• Supported Platforms: The framework supports multiple platforms, such as desktop, mobile, and server-side applications.
• Great Community: The Angular 2 community is vibrant, active, and always ready to help.
• Reusability: Applications built with Angular 2 are highly reusable. Components can be used across multiple projects, and code can be reused or shared with other developers.

Installing and Setting Up Angular 2

Installing Angular 2 is a straightforward process. The first step is to install a text editor such as Visual Studio Code or Atom. Next, download and install the Angular CLI (command line interface). Lastly, using the CLI, you can create a new project by running ‘ng new [project-name]’ in the command line.

Once a new project is created, you need to configure it. This involves setting up the environment variables, adding global stylesheets, setting up routing, and so on. You can find more detailed instructions on how to do this in the official Angular 2 documentation.

Components in Angular 2

Components are the cornerstone of Angular 2 development. They are pieces of code that you can use to build various elements such as user interfaces, data tables, navigation bars, and so on. Components provide you with the ability to segregate parts of your application into individual elements.

Components are independent of one another, meaning changes made to one component will not affect other components. This makes components highly reusable, meaning you can copy and paste them from one project to another without having to make any changes.

Working with Data in Angular 2

Angular 2 has robust support for working with data. In the framework, data is stored in services, which is a class that contains methods for modifying and interacting with data. Services can be injected into components, allowing for easy access to data from anywhere in your application.

The framework is also designed to allow seamless integration with third-party data sources such as RESTful API services. This makes it easy to access data from external sources and bring it into your application.

Services and Injectables in Angular 2

Services are classes in Angular 2 that contain logic for manipulating data and interacting with the application. They contain methods that can be used to perform specific tasks such as retrieving data from a database, sending data back to a server, or performing calculations on data. Additionally, services can be injected into other parts of the application so that they can share data with other components.

Injectables are similar to services in that they provide access to pieces of code from anywhere in an application. However, the main difference between services and injectables is that injectables are designed for global use whereas services are designed for local use.

Routing and Navigation in Angular 2

Routing in Angular 2 is an important factor for any application. It provides users with the ability to navigate between different parts of an application easily and quickly. The router is responsible for managing different URLs, determining what components should be displayed for each URL, generating URLs for links that are clicked in the application, and more.

The elements used to set up routing in Angular 2 include routes (groups of components), outlets (placeholders within components where routes will be displayed), paths (the URLs that define each route), guards (functions that determine if a route can be activated), resolvers (classes that collect data needed to render a route), redirects (URLs used to send users to another part of the application), and much more.

Building Reusable Components in Angular 2

Angular 2 makes it easy to build reusable components. Doing this requires creating custom HTML elements with properties on them that can be reused in other parts of the application. This means that you don’t have to keep writing duplicate code for components that are needed multiple times within an application.

Building reusable components also helps keep code organized as it allows multiple elements to be kept together. Additionally, reusable components speed up development time as they can be copied from one project or application to another without having to start from scratch each time.

Testing and Debugging in Angular 2

Testing and debugging are essential elements of web development. Angular 2 includes features specifically designed for testing web applications. These features allow developers to run unit tests on different parts of their codebase without having to manually test each part of their application individually.

Debugging tools such as Augury are also available for developers using the framework. Augury enables developers to quickly inspect their codebase and identify any potential issues that could arise when running the application.

Deploying an Angular 2 Application

Once an Angular 2 application is complete, it must be deployed in order for it to be accessed by users. Deploying an application with Angular 2 is quite simple and can be done in three steps:

1. Bundling: This involves creating a bundle of all the files needed for the project such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS, images, etc.
2. Uploading: After the project has been bundled, it must be uploaded to a web server or hosting platform such as Firebase or Heroku.
3. Publishing: Once the project has been uploaded, it must then be published so that it can be accessed by users via the URL.

Conclusion

Angular 2 is a powerful JavaScript framework built for modern web development. It tackles some of the challenges present in traditional web development by introducing features such as components, services, and injectables which make building web applications easier and faster. The framework also has robust support for working with data from third-party sources, routing and navigation options, and debugging tools.

The framework’s flexibility allows developers to create complex web applications with clean code that supports multiple platforms. With its ease of use and great community support, Angular 2 is well worth exploring as a powerful JavaScript framework for your next project.