An in depth analysis of AngularJS and DataModel

AngularJS profile

AngularJS is an JavaScript framework. It can be < script > Tags are added to the HTML page.

AngularJS extends HTML with instructions and binds data to HTML via expressions.

What is AngularJS?

AngularJS makes it easier to develop modern single-page applications (SPAs: Single Page Applications).

AngularJS binds application data to the HTML element.

AngularJS can clone and duplicate HTML elements.

AngularJS can hide and show HTML elements.

AngularJS can add code "behind" the HTML element.

AngularJS supports input validation.

In general, JSON is used in AngularJS as a model for storing data. We might write model in controller like this:

app.controller('BookController',['$scope',function($scope){
$scope.book = {
id:1,
name:'',
author:'',
stores:[
{id:1, name:'', quantity:2},
{id:2, name:'', quantity:2},
...
]
};
}])

You might use this model in a view like this:

<div ng-controller="BookController">
<span ng-bind="book.id"></span>
<input type="text" ng-model="book.name"/>
<input type="text" ng-model="book.author"/>
</div> 

When we need to get data from the server, we might write something like this:

app.controller('BookController',['$scope', '$http', function($scope, $http){
var bookId = 1;
$http.get('api/books'+bookId).success(function(bookData){
$scope.book = bookData;
})
$scope.deleteBook = function(){
$http.delete('api/books/' + bookId);
}
$scope.updateBook = function(){
$http.put('api/books/'+bookId, $scope.book);
}
$scope.getBookImageUrl = function(width, height){
return 'our/iamge/service' +bookId + '/width/height';
}
$scope.isAvailable = function(){
if(!$scope.book.stores || $scope.book.stores.length === 0){
return false;
}
reutrn $scope.book.stores.some(function(store){
return store.quantity > 0;
})
}
}]) 

You might use this in a view:

<div ng-controller="BookController">
<div ng-style="{backgroundImage: 'url('+getBookImageUrl(100,100)+')'}"></div>
<span ng-bind="book.id"></span?
<input type="text" ng-model="book.name"/>
<input type="text" ng-model="book.author"/>
is available: <span ng-bind="isAvailable() ? 'Yes' : 'No'"></span>
<button ng-click="deleteBook()">Delete</button>
<button ng-click="updateBook">Update</button>
</div> 

Above, model in JSON can only be used in BookController. How can it be used in other controller?
-- Via factory

app.factory('Book', ['$http', function($http){
function Book(bookData){
if(bookData){
this.setData(bookData);
}
}
Book.prototype = {
setData: function(bookData){
angular.extend(this, bookData);
},
load: function(id){
var scope = this;
$http.get('api/books/' + bookId).success(function(bookData){
scope.setData(bookData);
})
},
delete: function(bookId){
$http.delete('api/books/' + bookId);
},
update: function(bookId){
$http.put('api/books/' + bookId, this);
},
getImageUrl: function(width, height){
return 'our/image/service/' + this.book.id + '/' + width + '/' + height;
},
isAvailable: funciton(){
if(!this.book.stores || this.book.stores.length === 0) {
return false;
} 
return this.book.stores.some(function(store){
return store.quantity > 0;
})
}
}
return Book;
}]) 

Above, an Data Model similar to Book was created by factory and can now be injected into controller.

app.controller('BookController', ['$scope', 'Book', function($scope, Book){
$scope.book = new Book();
$scope.book.load(1);
}]) 

There will also be changes in the view.

<div ng-controller="BookController">
<div ng-style="{backgroundImage: 'url(' + book.getImageUrl(100, 100) + ')'}"></div>
<span ng-bind="book.id"></span>
<input type="text" ng-model="book.name"/>
<input type="text" ng-model="book.author"/>
is abailble: <span ng-bind="book.isAvailabe() ? 'Yes' : 'No'"></span>
<button ng-click="book.delete()">Delete</button>
<button ng-click="book.update()">Update</button>
</div> 

Above, multiple controller can use Data Model for one book. What if multiple controller handle Data Model for one book?

app.factory('booksManager', ['$http', '$q', 'Book', function($http. $q, Book){
var booksManager = {
_pool: {},
_retrieveInstance: function(bookId, bookData){
var instance = this._pool[bookId];
if(instance){
instance.setData(bookData);
} else {
instance = new Book(bookData);
this._pool[bookId] = instance;
}
return instance;
},
_seach: function(bookId){
reutrn this_.pool[bookId];
},
_load: function(bookId, deferred){
var scope = this;
$http.get('api/books/' + bookId)
.success(funciton(bookData){
var book = scope._retrieveInstance(bookData.id, bookData);
deferred.resolve(book);
})
.error(function(){
deferred.reject();
})
},
getBook: function(bookId){
var deferred = $q.defer();
var book = this._search(bookId);
if(book){
deferred.resove(book);
} else {
this._load(bookId, deferred);
}
return deferred.promise;
},
loadAllBooks: function(){
var deferred = $q.defer();
var scope = this;
$http.get('api/books')
.success(function(booksArray){
var books = [];
booksArray.forEach(function(bookData){
var book = scope.l_retrieveInstance(bookData.id, bookData);
books.push(book);
});
deferred.resolve(books);
})
.error(function(){
deferred.reject();
});
return deferred.promise;
} . 
setBook: function(bookData){
var scope = this;
var book = this._search(bookData.id);
if(book){
book.setData(bookData);
} else {
book = scope._retrieveInstance(bookData);
}
return book;
}
};
return booksManager;
}]) 

Book service removes the load method.

app.factory('Book', ['$http', function($http) { 
function Book(bookData) {
if (bookData) {
this.setData(bookData):
}
// Some other initializations related to book
};
Book.prototype = {
setData: function(bookData) {
angular.extend(this, bookData);
},
delete: function() {
$http.delete('ourserver/books/' + bookId);
},
update: function() {
$http.put('ourserver/books/' + bookId, this);
},
getImageUrl: function(width, height) {
return 'our/image/service/' + this.book.id + '/width/height';
},
isAvailable: function() {
if (!this.book.stores || this.book.stores.length === 0) {
return false;
}
return this.book.stores.some(function(store) {
return store.quantity > 0;
});
}
};
return Book;
}]); 

Multiple controller can now use the same booksManager service.

app.controller('EditableBookController',['$scope', 'booksManager', function($scope, booksManager){
booksManager.getBook(1).then(function(book){
$scope.book = book;
})
}])
.controller('BooksListController',['$scope', 'booksManager', function($scope, booksManager){
booksManager.loadAllBooks().then(function(books){
$scope.books = books;
})
}])