Angular Version - History, Features, Difference

Know all Angular versions

Angular stands out as a flexible framework in the changing web development realm. Introduced initially as AngularJS in 2010 by Google, Angular has changed to become the efficient and feature-rich framework we know today. This article explores the angular version history, features, and distinctions between versions of Angular, providing a guide to comprehending its growth and capabilities.

What Is Angular?

Angular serves as both a platform and framework for constructing intricate web applications. Utilizing TypeScript, a typed extension of JavaScript, simplifies the process of building durable, maintainable, and testable applications. Its component-based structure promotes reusability and modularity, empowering developers to create user experiences.

What is a Single-Page Application?

A Single Page Application (SPA) is a web application that loads a single HTML page and updates content dynamically as users engage with the application. SPAs enhance the user experience by reducing page reloads and lessening server load through their fluidity and responsiveness. Angular excels in crafting SPAs by equipping developers with tools for managing routing, state control, and data flow.

What is a Cross-Platform Application?

A cross-platform application is created to operate on operating systems and devices without modifications. It facilitates cross-platform development, enabling developers to construct web, mobile, and desktop applications using a codebase. This feature reduces development time and effort, significantly guaranteeing platform user experiences.

All Angular Versions History and Features

Angular, developed and maintained by Google, has a rich history characterized by continuous improvements and innovations. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the angular version history and key features of each major Angular version:

Version	Angular Version Release Dates	Angular Version Wise Features
AngularJS	2010	Initial release of AngularJS. Introduced two-way data binding. Based on JavaScript. Based on JavaScript.
Angular 2	2016	Complete rewrite with components and TypeScript support Component-based architecture.
Angular 4	2017	Introduced HttpClient module for handling HTTP requests. Improved animations.
Angular 5	2017	Build optimizer for smaller bundles HTTP interceptor support Upgraded RxJS.
Angular 6	2018	Angular Elements for reusable components. Improved CLI commands. RxJS 6
Angular 7	2018	CLI prompts during project setup Enhancements to Angular Material. Drag-and-drop.
Angular 8	2019	Ivy renderer (opt-in preview). Differential loading. Improved TypeScript support.
Angular 9	2020	Default Ivy renderer Improved build speed and size. TypeScript 3.7+ support.
Angular 10	2020	Optional stricter settings with type-checking. Updated ng update functionality.
Angular 11	2020	Hot module replacement in Angular CLI Webpack 5 compatibility. Material updates.
Angular 12	2021	Faster ng build performance. ESLint and TypeScript 4.2 support. DevTools.
Angular 13	2021	Service worker updates for PWAs. Further ng build enhancements. Material updates.
Angular 14	2022	Form improvements and validators. Angular Material theming. Faster compilation.
Angular 15	2022	New Ivy features and optimizations Enhanced router capabilities ng update.
Angular 16	2023	Performance optimizations Improved NgModules and lazy loading. Advanced DevTools.

Difference Between All Angular Versions

Each version of Angular brings improvements in performance, developer experience, and new features that help developers build more efficient and maintainable applications. Here is a detailed breakdown of the differences between various versions of Angular in table format:

What is the Difference Between AngularJS and Angular 2 ?

Angular 2 introduced a complete rewrite using TypeScript and a component-based architecture, moving away from AngularJS’s JavaScript and MVC patterns. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	AngularJS	Angular 2
Language	JavaScript	TypeScript
Architecture	MVC (Model-View-Controller)	Component-based
Data Binding	Two-way data binding	One-way data binding
Directives	ng-* directives	Improved directives
Dependency Injection (DI)	Basic DI	More powerful and flexible DI system
Mobile Support	Limited	Enhanced performance and support

What is the Difference Between Angular 2 and Angular 4

Angular 4 focuses on reducing the size of the generated code and improving performance while maintaining backward compatibility with Angular 2. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 2	Angular 4
Code Size	Standard	Reduced size of generated code
Performance	Standard	Improved performance
Animations	Integrated	Moved to @angular/animations package
New Features	Basic	ngIf and ngFor with an else clause
Type Checking	Standard	Enhanced in templates
Compatibility	N/A	Backward compatible with Angular 2

What is the Difference Between Angular 4 and Angular 5

Angular 5 introduced a build optimizer, a new HttpClient module, and improved support for internationalization (i18n) and forms. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 4	Angular 5
Build Optimizer	N/A	Added for performance improvement
HttpClient	N/A	New HttpClient module
Compiler	Standard	Improved compiler to reduce size
Internationalization (i18n)	Basic	Dynamic imports for lazy loading
Forms	Standard	Improved validation and new features

What is the Difference Between Angular 9 10 and 11?

Angular 9 introduced the Ivy renderer, Angular 10 updated the default browser configuration, and Angular 11 added Hot Module Replacement (HMR) and ESLint support. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 9	Angular 10	Angular 11
Renderer	Ivy as default	Ivy as default	Ivy as default
TypeScript Support	3.7	3.9	4.0
Bundle Sizes	Smaller	Smaller	Smaller
Default Browser Config	Standard	Updated	Updated
CommonJS Imports	N/A	Warnings added	Warnings added
Hot Module Replacement (HMR)	Basic	Improved	Further improved
ESLint Support	N/A	Basic	Official support added
Build Performance	Standard	Improved	Improved

What is the Difference Between Angular 13 and 14?

Angular 14 introduced typed forms and experimental standalone components, enhancing type safety and modularity compared to Angular 13. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 13	Angular 14
Typed Forms	Standard	Introduced strict typing
Standalone Components	N/A	Experimental support
Template Diagnostics	Standard	Improved diagnostics
Dynamic Imports	Standard	Enhanced for standalone components

What is the Difference Between Angular 12 and 13?

Angular 13 improved the Angular Package Format (APF) and persistent build cache, while Angular 12 deprecated Angular View Engine in favor of Ivy. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 12	Angular 13
Ivy	View Engine deprecated	Improved Ivy
Nullish Coalescing	Template support	Template support
Strict Mode	Default for new projects	Default for new projects
Component Testing Harnesses	New testing harnesses	Improved testing harnesses
Angular Package Format (APF)	Standard	Simplified with Ivy
TypeScript Support	4.2	4.4
Component API	Standard	Simplified ViewContainerRef API
Build Cache	N/A	Persistent build cache enabled

What is the Difference Between Angular 14 and 15?

Angular 15 further enhanced standalone components and APIs, introducing signal support for state management, and building on Angular 14’s features. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 14	Angular 15
Standalone APIs	Experimental	Further enhancements
Signal Support	N/A	Introduced
NgModules	Required	Reduced reliance
Tooling	Standard	Enhanced CLI and diagnostics

What is the Difference Between Angular 11 and 14?

Angular 14 added typed forms and standalone components, while Angular 11 focused on HMR, ESLint support, and faster builds with TypeScript 4.0. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 11	Angular 14
TypeScript Support	4.0	4.7
Typed Forms	N/A	Introduced
Standalone Components	N/A	Experimental support
Performance	Standard	Improved
Tooling	Standard	Enhanced

What is the Difference Between Angular 15 and 16?

Angular 16 introduced a new Signals API for reactive programming and improved rendering capabilities, building on Angular 15’s standalone APIs and signal support. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 15	Angular 16
Signal API	Introduced	Further developed
TypeScript Support	4.7	4.8
Rendering Capabilities	Standard	Improved pipeline
Dependencies	Standard	Updated for performance and security

What is the Difference Between Angular 13 and 16?

Angular 16 brought advanced standalone component support, enhanced signal API, and updated TypeScript from 4.4 to 4.8, surpassing Angular 13’s improvements. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 13	Angular 16
Standalone Components	Standard	Major advancements
Signal API	N/A	Introduced and developed
TypeScript Support	4.4	4.8
Rendering Performance	Standard	Enhanced

What is the Difference Between Angular 16 and 17?

Angular 17 further optimized the Ivy rendering engine, added more features to the Signals API, and enhanced developer tooling and security updates over Angular 16. The following are their differences in detail:

Feature/Aspect	Angular 16	Angular 17
Ivy Rendering Engine	Improved	Further optimized
Signals API	Introduced and developed	Additional features and stability
Developer Experience	Standard	Enhanced tooling and CLI
Dependencies	Updated	Ongoing updates for security

FAQs

Can I upgrade Angular 12 to 14?

Yes, you can upgrade from Angular 12 to 14. To do so, follow these steps:
First, upgrade the `@angular-eslint/schematics` package:
“`
ng update @angular-eslint/schematics@14
“`
Then, upgrade Angular itself:
“`
ng update @angular/core@14 @angular/cli@14
“`

Which Angular version is best?

The best Angular version depends on your specific requirements and project context. Angular 17 and 18 offer significant improvements in performance, developer experience, and stability.
Consider upgrading to Angular 17 or 18 for faster app starts, improved memory usage, and enhanced features like declarative control flow and standalone components.

Is Angular 17 released?
Angular 17 was released on November 8, 2023. It brings several exciting features and enhancements. Notably, Angular 17 focuses on speed, simplicity, and efficiency for both developers and users.

Is Angular 17 a stable version?
Angular 17 is a stable version. It includes features like declarative control flow, built-in performance enhancements, and standalone components. Developers have reported improved app starts (over 50% faster) and reduced memory usage (up to 30%) with Angular 17.

What’s new in Angular 18?
Angular 18 introduces zoneless change detection, which improves performance and simplifies debugging. It also stabilizes features like Material 3, deferrable views, and built-in control flow. Additionally, Angular 18 enhances server-side rendering (SSR) and offers better internationalization (i18n) support.

Is Angular 17 better than React?
Comparing Angular and React depends on your project goals and preferences:
Angular:
A comprehensive framework with a strong ecosystem.
Opinionated structure and powerful features.
Ideal for large-scale applications.
React:
A library for building UI components.
Lightweight and flexible.
Popular for smaller projects and dynamic interfaces.
For a more detailed overview explore this beginner-friendly Angular course!

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