What are directives in Angular?

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In Angular, a directive is a function which is executed when the Angular compiler finds it in the Angular DOM. Directives specify how to control components and business logic in Angular applications.

There are mainly three type of directives:

  • Component Directives
  • Structural Directives
  • Attribute Directives

In Angular, directives are a fundamental concept used to extend the functionality of HTML elements. They allow you to create reusable components or behaviors that can be applied to elements within your application.

There are three main types of directives in Angular:

  1. Component Directives: These are the most common type of directives in Angular. Components are directives with a template. They encapsulate the HTML, CSS, and behavior of a part of the UI. They are essentially reusable custom elements that encapsulate HTML markup, JavaScript logic, and styles.
  2. Attribute Directives: Attribute directives modify the behavior or appearance of an element. They are typically applied as attributes to elements in your templates. Angular provides some built-in attribute directives like ngClass, ngStyle, and ngModel, but you can also create custom attribute directives to fulfill specific requirements.
  3. Structural Directives: Structural directives change the structure of the DOM by adding or removing elements. They are responsible for HTML layout manipulation. Examples of structural directives in Angular include ngIf, ngFor, and ngSwitch.

In summary, directives in Angular provide a way to build reusable components, modify the behavior or appearance of elements, and manipulate the DOM structure. They are essential for creating dynamic and interactive Angular applications.