It’s crucial to know the version of AngularJS you’re working on, because it has a significant impact on the functioning of your code. The Angular framework has come a long way since its inception, with a multitude of updates enhancing its features and functionality to deliver a more user-friendly and efficient platform for developers. Understanding your version allows you to uncover the functionality available to you and navigate potential version specific quirks.
Checking Angular Version
The most straightforward way to check the Angular version is through the package.json file. This is where your project’s dependencies, including Angular, are listed. You can access this file in the root directory of your Angular application.
{
"name": "my-app",
"version": "0.0.0",
"scripts": {
...
},
"private": true,
"dependencies": {
"@angular/animations": "^7.1.0",
"@angular/common": "^7.1.0",
"@angular/compiler": "^7.1.0",
"@angular/core": "^7.1.0",
...
}
}
Here, @angular/core indicates the version of Angular running in your project. The caret (^) symbol before the version number means that your project is running on a version that is compatible with version 7.1.0.
Interpreting the Code and Angular CLI
The given code is part of the package.json file of an AngularJS project. This file holds various metadata relevant to the project and is used to manage the project’s dependencies. Dependencies are simply Node.js packages that your project needs to run.
Another way of checking your Angular version is by using the Angular CLI (Command Line Interface). The Angular CLI is a command-line interface tool used to initialize, develop, scaffold and maintain Angular applications.
ng version or ng v
Running the above command in the terminal will provide you with details about your Angular CLI version, Node.js version, Operating System and other relevant environment details.
Angular Releases and Improvements
AngularJS has been undergoing various improvements and updates since it was released. Starting from AngularJS (1.X), it moved to Angular 2, which was a complete rewrite of AngularJS, followed by Angular 4, 5, 6, 7, and the latest version being Angular 10. The changes introduced in these versions contributed significantly to the efficiency, scalability and performance of Angular apps. By keeping track of your Angular version, you ensure that you leverage the best features and stay updated with the required changes.
AngularJS revolutionized the world of single page applications. Later on, Angular 2+ (or just Angular) became a complete rewrite integrating the best practices to provide better performance. Each consecutive version thereafter introduced several backward-compatible changes for easy migration.
